At a time when President Joe Biden and congressional democrats are flailing, Republican Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas is oddly eager to throw them a legislative lifeline.
This help comes in the form of a new bill framed as enhancing freight rail safety, but in reality it is just another big-bureaucrat, big-labor bill mirroring legislation by liberal Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who is currently fighting for his political survival.
Rep. Nehls is derailing his conservative values with his Railway Safety Enhancement Act (H.R. 8996). Proponents claim the bill will make our railways safer, but a closer examination reveals its true intent: a blatant power grab by big government and big labor at the expense of American conservatives and consumers. It’s all about consolidating power in Washington, D.C., and padding the pockets of union bosses who are more concerned with their political allies and clout than the well-being of American commerce or infrastructure.
Pushed under the guise of safety, H.R. 8996 introduces a slew of new government mandates, regulations and spending – dictating everything from crew size, train length and even train speed – that will put the brakes on rail transportation innovation and drive-up costs for freight rail companies and their customers.
Higher transportation costs mean higher prices for goods, from the food on our tables to gas in our tanks. In a time of economic uncertainty and unease challenged by historic inflation and interest rates, the last thing American families need is another hit to their wallets courtesy of politicians in Washington, D.C.
Moreover, this ill-conceived legislation is a direct attack on the conservative, free-market and limited government principles that have long underpinned our nation’s prosperity.
By imposing onerous government regulations, the Nehls bill effectively grants unions more power over an already overregulated rail industry, diminishing competition and discouraging private sector investment. The result? A sluggish, less efficient national freight rail system that dampens economic growth and undermines our global competitiveness.
Rep. Nehls is way off track with H.R. 8996. Texans, and indeed all Americans, expect their representatives – especially Republicans – to champion policies that foster economic competition, freedom and growth, not cater to special interests and their political agendas. By aligning himself with the Senate Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Sherrod Brown and their big-labor allies, Nehls is betraying the very principles he was elected to uphold.
It’s no secret that Sherrod Brown is in a tight Senate race in Ohio. His alliance with big labor is just another desperate attempt to shore up his political base from union-heavy constituencies. But what works for Brown in Ohio shouldn’t dictate policy for Texas or the rest of the nation. H.R. 8996 is a cynical ploy by Nehls to leverage rail safety to advance his own personal and political agenda, and it should be seen for what it is: a train wreck.
Instead of yielding to big labor’s demands and big government’s wishes, we need policies that promote competition, efficiency and innovation in the freight rail industry. Real improvements come from technological advancements and smart investments, not from bloated and bureaucratic government regulations and union handouts.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri and House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana should stop this bill in its tracks. It’s a bill that, if passed, will do more harm than good, dividing the Republican conference, inflating consumer costs and undermining the very principles that have made America’s freight rail system the backbone of our economy and supply chain.
The Railway Safety Enhancement Act may be dressed up as a safety measure, but don’t be fooled by its name. It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and it’s the American consumer who will pay the price.
Rep. Nehls needs to get back on the right track and as a Republican stand up for true conservative values. Congress needs to reject this Brown-Nehls bill.
Matthew Kandrach is president of Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, a free-market-oriented consumer advocacy organization.