SF 3582

as introduced - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                             A resolution
  1.2             urging federal rejection of the merger of the 
  1.3             Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Canadian National 
  1.4             Railroads. 
  1.5      
  1.6      WHEREAS, freight rail transportation is an essential part 
  1.7   of the economy of the state of Minnesota; and 
  1.8      WHEREAS, the freight railroad industry continues to 
  1.9   struggle with the implementation of recent mergers in the 
  1.10  western and eastern United States; and 
  1.11     WHEREAS, the freight railroad industry remains very 
  1.12  unsettled and requires time to stabilize from ongoing mergers; 
  1.13  and 
  1.14     WHEREAS, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Canadian 
  1.15  National Railroads have announced their intentions to combine 
  1.16  their operations; and 
  1.17     WHEREAS, the timing of this merger proposal is not only 
  1.18  premature but also likely to trigger the final round of railroad 
  1.19  industry consolidation at the most inopportune time; and 
  1.20     WHEREAS, a new round of premature industry consolidation 
  1.21  could threaten the future viability of the United States rail 
  1.22  system; and 
  1.23     WHEREAS, a new wave of railroad industry consolidation 
  1.24  could divert management attention and resources from successful 
  1.25  execution of recent rail mergers; and 
  2.1      WHEREAS, another wave of railroad industry consolidation 
  2.2   before shippers are convinced they have received the benefits of 
  2.3   the most recent mergers is almost certain to result in industry 
  2.4   reregulation; and 
  2.5      WHEREAS, a significant portion of America's freight rail 
  2.6   system could be Canadian-controlled should this transaction be 
  2.7   approved; and 
  2.8      WHEREAS, approval of the Burlington Northern Santa 
  2.9   Fe/Canadian National merger could have a detrimental effect on 
  2.10  the United States defense transportation network; and 
  2.11     WHEREAS, several organizations, including the United 
  2.12  Transportation Union and the Chemical Manufacturers Association, 
  2.13  have announced their opposition to the proposed Burlington 
  2.14  Northern Santa Fe/Canadian National merger; and 
  2.15     WHEREAS, jobs and industries throughout the state of 
  2.16  Minnesota could be negatively affected by the Burlington 
  2.17  Northern Santa Fe/Canadian National proposal; NOW, THEREFORE, 
  2.18     BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota 
  2.19  that it urges the federal Surface Transportation Board to reject 
  2.20  as not in the public interest any application by the Burlington 
  2.21  Northern Santa Fe and the Canadian National Railroads to combine 
  2.22  their systems under common control. 
  2.23     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
  2.24  State of Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this 
  2.25  memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States 
  2.26  Senate; the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives; 
  2.27  the chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
  2.28  Transportation; the chair of the House Committee on 
  2.29  Transportation and Infrastructure; and Minnesota's Senators and 
  2.30  Representatives in Congress.