Helena, MT — Todd O’Hair, president and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, discusses the importance of protecting Montana’s freight network from prescriptive federal mandates in a July 18 op-ed for the Billings Gazette.
“Some proposals advanced during the U.S. House’s work on the transportation bill would impose one-size-fits-all operating mandates on freight railroads regardless of whether they are supported by evidence or improve safety.”
He argues that while these proposals may be well intentioned, they could make the rail network less efficient, raise transportation costs, and discourage investment in technologies that are improving rail safety.
“The real question is whether federal policy will encourage the next generation of safety technology — or make it harder to deploy.”
O’Hair writes that Montana’s economy depends on a strong and efficient freight rail network and urges Congress to support policies that promote innovation and measurable safety improvements rather than prescriptive mandates.
“By rejecting prescriptive mandates that could slow innovation and instead supporting policies that encourage investment and measurable safety improvements, Congress can strengthen one of the nation’s most important freight networks while helping keep Montana businesses competitive for years to come.”
