Report Language Reflects Widespread Concern Over Proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern Merger
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Stop the Rail Merger today applauded the House Appropriations Committee for including strong, meaningful language in the FY2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill, urging the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to conduct a rigorous review of the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern (UP/NS) merger. The report language was included in Wednesday’s Committee markup with bipartisan support.
The report language on page 112 of the bill directs the STB to conduct a rigorous and comprehensive review of the proposed transaction to ensure it delivers substantial public benefits, enhanced competition for rail shippers, and protections for the U.S. economy and consumers. Critically, the Committee also recognized and reaffirmed the STB’s revised 2001 merger rules, which set a high bar and required applicants to not only preserve rail-to-rail competition but also to deliver enhanced competitive options for railroad shippers. These rules have never been applied in a major Class I merger proceeding. This adds to the concerns that have already been voiced by over 70 leaders in Congress as well as state attorneys general and state agricultural commissioners.
“This report language sends another clear signal from Members of Congress that the proposed UP/NS merger must be subject to the highest level of regulatory scrutiny in order to protectagainst anti-competitive harms, ensure rail shippers have new and enhanced rail-to-rail competitive options should the transaction move forward, and evaluate whether further concentration in the rail industry is necessary and in the public interest,” said the Stop the Rail Merger Coalition. “We applaud continued Congressional oversight of this proposed merger, because the U.S. economy cannot afford a costly deal that drives up prices for rail shippers and consumers, weakens the workforce, and destabilizes the nation’s supply chain.”