Joco Today

On June 19, 2025, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas and Senator Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin reintroduced the Reliable Rail Service Act. This legislation is designed to address issues of unreliable service and high rail shipping costs that affect farmers and manufacturers. The act aims to enhance rail supply chains by ensuring major freight railroads provide reliable service at reasonable rates, thereby enabling American businesses to transport products more efficiently.

Senator Marshall emphasized the importance of this bill for Kansas's agricultural sector: "Kansas’s farmers and ranchers depend upon reliable transport of their world-class goods to the rest of the country, and Class 1 railroads are not meeting expectations – this is a disservice to hard-working Kansans," he stated. He expressed his commitment to collaborating with Senator Baldwin on advancing the bill.

Senator Baldwin highlighted the impact on Wisconsin: "Across the Badger State, our farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers rely on rail service to get their products to market and make ends meet," she said. She noted that unreliable rail service affects livelihoods, disrupts supply chains, and increases costs for families in Wisconsin. Baldwin expressed pride in working with her Republican colleague on this initiative aimed at supporting Wisconsin workers and controlling consumer costs.

The Reliable Rail Service Act has garnered support from various sectors including agriculture, labor organizations, energy producers, and manufacturers who have experienced firsthand the negative effects of poor service and high prices on their operations.