CONTENTS Page 2 United States Railway Association witnesses: Dean, Alan L., Vice President for Administration. Hillman, Jordan Jay, General Counsel... Hoppe, Charles, Vice President for Operations and Facilities Murphy, Russell F., Vice President for Finance_ Robison, Howard W., Vice President for Congressional Affairs__ Additional material supplied for the record by: Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, Transportation and Commerce Subcommittee, letter dated April 23, 1976, from Roger W. Hooker, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Inter- government Affairs, Department of Transportation, to Chairman Rooney re participation in hearing___ United States Railway Association: Budget submission for administrative expenses, March 1976. Budget submission for administrative expenses, October 1975. Membership of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, and Hogan & Hart- Contract between USRA and Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering- USRA AUTHORIZATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1976 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10 a.m., pursuant to notice, in room 2218, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Fred B. Rooney, chairman, presiding. Mr. ROONEY. This morning we will have hearings on H.R. 13325. This bill amends the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to authorize additional appropriations, not to exceed $20 million, for the U.S. Railway Association for the period beginning May 1, 1976, and ending September 30, 1977. Actually, of this amount only $11.8 million represents a new authorization of funds. A total of $54 million has been previously authorized. This authorization would bring the total amount authorized to USRA since its inception to $65.8 million, of which $45.8 million has already been appropriated. Also, this bill for the first time authorizes funds for a specific time period. This will enable future authorizations to be made on a continuing basis if this should become necessary. It is my understanding that most of these funds will be necessary to conduct economic research and to obtain legal assistance to litigate controversies arising in defense of the final system plan. In addition, some of those funds are necessary to carry out the additional responsibilities of the Association imposed upon it by the recently enacted Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 and by the establishment of the "unified" Con Rail rather than the originally recommended Con Rail structure. Without objection, the text of H.R. 13325 will be printed at this point in the record. [The text of H.R. 13325 follows:] (1) 94TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 13325 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 27, 1976 Mr. STAGGERS (for himself, Mr. RoONEY, Mr. DEVINE, and Mr. SKUBITZ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce A BILL To amend the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to authorize additional appropriations for the United States Railway Association. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That section 214 (c) of the Regional Rail Reorganization 4 Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 724 (c)) is amended to read as 5 follows: 6 "(c) ASSOCIATION.-For the period beginning May 1, 7 1976, and ending September 30, 1977, there are authorized 8 to be appropriated to the Association for purposes of carry 9 ing out its administrative expenses under this Act such sums I 2 1 as are necessary, not to exceed $20,000,000. Sums appro2 priated under this subsection are authorized to remain avail 3 able until expended.". Mr. ROONEY. This morning as our witness is Mr. James A. Hagen, President of the United States Railway Association. At this time I would like again to thank him personally for the invaluable assistance he and his associates gave this subcommittee during its deliberations on the Rail Revitalization Act. As you know, we did not have an easy task, but without your help we would have had an impossible task. Again I want to commend you, Mr. Hagen, and your associates for the very fine cooperation you have given this subcommittee. I would also at this time like to welcome a new member to the subcommittee, my very great friend and associate and colleague, Marty Russo, who is just attending his first meeting here this morning. Marty, I would like to welcome you to this very important subcommittee. Mr. Russo. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. STATEMENT OF JAMES A. HAGEN, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES Mr. HAGEN. Gentlemen, it is a pleasure to be here. I would like to express my appreciation for the help this committee has given the Association for the past couple of years in the rather difficult task of restructuring railroads that were in deep trouble. I think we are well on the road to having a good solution. I would like to introduce the people with me today. Starting on my left, Mr. Howard W. Robison, Vice President for Congressional Affairs. Mr. Russell F. Murphy, Vice President for Finance. Mr. Jordan Jay Hillman, General Counsel. Mr. Alan L. Dean, Vice President for Administration. And Mr. Charles Hoppe, Vice President for Operations and Facilities Planning. We appreciate very much the invitation to appear before the committee in support of an increase in the authorization for administrative expense appropriations for the United States Railway Association. I have a longer statement that I have submitted for the record, but I have a few remarks that I would like to make. |