Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-49
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Competition and antitrust
Railroads
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2011 - Amends the Clayton Act to grant the United States exclusive authority to bring suit for injunctive relief against a common carrier that is not a rail common carrier subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board (STB).
 
Revises provisions prohibiting anticompetitive transactions except for those approved by specified federal agencies acting under certain statutes to eliminate the exemption for certain STB approved transactions.
 
Provides that, in any civil action against a rail common carrier, the U.S. district court shall not be required to defer to the primary jurisdiction of the STB.

Empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to regulate, and engage in antitrust enforcement regarding, collective rate agreements and certain transactions, including railroad mergers and acquisitions.
 
Permits treble damages against railroad common carriers in antitrust suits to parties injured by antitrust violations without regard to whether such railroads have filed rates or whether a complaint challenging rates has been filed.
 
Amends federal transportation law to terminate the exemptions from antitrust laws for collective ratemaking agreements.
 
Requires the STB, when reviewing a proposed agreement, to take into account its impact upon shippers, consumers, and affected communities.
 
Revises STB authority to provide that a rail carrier, corporation, or a person participating in an approved transaction is not exempt from specified antitrust laws. Makes such provision inapplicable to any transaction relating to the pooling of railroad cars approved by the STB or its predecessor agency.

action_date: 2011-03-28
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2011 - Amends the Clayton Act to grant the United States exclusive authority to bring suit for injunctive relief against a common carrier that is not a rail common carrier subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board (STB).
 
Revises provisions prohibiting anticompetitive transactions except for those approved by specified federal agencies acting under certain statutes to eliminate the exemption for certain STB approved transactions.
 
Provides that, in any civil action against a rail common carrier, the U.S. district court shall not be required to defer to the primary jurisdiction of the STB.

Empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to regulate, and engage in antitrust enforcement regarding, collective rate agreements and certain transactions, including railroad mergers and acquisitions.
 
Permits treble damages against railroad common carriers in antitrust suits to parties injured by antitrust violations without regard to whether such railroads have filed rates or whether a complaint challenging rates has been filed.
 
Amends federal transportation law to terminate the exemptions from antitrust laws for collective ratemaking agreements.
 
Requires the STB, when reviewing a proposed agreement, to take into account its impact upon shippers, consumers, and affected communities.
 
Revises STB authority to provide that a rail carrier, corporation, or a person participating in an approved transaction is not exempt from specified antitrust laws. Makes such provision inapplicable to any transaction relating to the pooling of railroad cars approved by the STB or its predecessor agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-18
text: By Senator Leahy from Committee on the Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 112-38.
action_date: 2011-07-18
text: By Senator Leahy from Committee on the Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 112-38.
action_date: 2011-03-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 19.
action_date: 2011-03-28
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2011-03-28
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2011-03-03
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S162-163)
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S161-162)
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate