
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 45USC1101]

 
                           TITLE 45--RAILROADS
 
                   CHAPTER 20--NORTHEAST RAIL SERVICE
 
Sec. 1101. Congressional findings and declarations

    The Congress finds and declares that--
        (1) the processes set in motion by the Regional Rail 
    Reorganization Act of 1973 [45 U.S.C. 701 et seq.] have failed to 
    create a self-sustaining railroad system in the Northeast region of 
    the United States and have cost United States taxpayers many 
    billions of dollars over original estimates;
        (2) current arrangements for the provision of rail freight and 
    commuter service in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United 
    States are inadequate to meet the transportation needs of the public 
    and the needs of national security;
        (3) although the Federal Government has provided billions of 
    dollars in assistance for Conrail and its employees, the Federal 
    interest in ensuring the flow of interstate commerce through rail 
    service in the private sector has not been achieved, and the 
    protection of interstate commerce requires Federal intervention to 
    preserve essential rail service in the private sector;
        (4) the provisions for protection of employees of bankrupt 
    railroads contained in the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 
    [45 U.S.C. 701 et seq.] have resulted in the payment of benefits far 
    in excess of levels anticipated at the time of enactment, have 
    imposed an excessive fiscal burden on the Federal taxpayer, and are 
    now an obstacle to the establishment of improved rail service and 
    continued rail employment in the Northeast region of the United 
    States; and
        (5) since holding Conrail liable for employee protection 
    payments would destroy its prospects of becoming a profitable 
    carrier and further injure its employees, an alternative employee 
    protection system must be developed and funded.

(Pub. L. 97-35, title XI, Sec. 1132, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 644.)

                       References in Text

    The Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973, referred to in pars. 
(1) and (4), is Pub. L. 93-236, Jan. 2, 1974, 87 Stat. 985, as amended, 
which is classified principally to chapter 16 (Sec. 701 et seq.) of this 
title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short 
Title note set out under section 701 of this title and Tables.


                             Effective Date

    Section 1169 of subtitle E (Secs. 1131-1169) of title XI of Pub. L. 
97-35 provided that: ``Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of 
and the amendments made by this subtitle [see Short Title note set out 
below] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this subtitle 
[Aug. 13, 1981].''


                               Short Title

    Section 1131 of subtitle E (Secs. 1131-1169) of title XI of Pub. L. 
97-35 provided that: ``This subtitle [enacting this chapter, and 
sections 159a, 581 to 590, 727 to 729, 744a, 748, 761 to 769c, and 797 
to 797m of this title, amending sections 601, 702, 711 to 713, 724, 741, 
743, 745, 821, 825, and 829 of this title, repealing sections 771 to 
780, 910, and 1006 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as 
notes under sections 744a, 771, and 1101 of this title] may be cited as 
the `Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981'.''

                    Act Referred to in Other Sections

    The Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981 is referred to in section 
797d of this title.
