Overregulating the chemistry industry jeopardizes innovation, jobs, and economic growth. Learn more.

  • Read time: 2 minutes
  • Press Release

ACC Urges Congress to Address Rail Supply Chain Challenges

CONTACT US
Scott Jensen
CONTACT US

WASHINGTON (May 11, 2023) — In testimony to Congress, the American Chemistry Council’s President and CEO, Chris Jahn, stressed the importance of a resilient supply chain and shared recommendations on how to get freight rail back on track. 

“Quite simply – if we want to make more things in America rather than in places like China, we must manufacture and move more chemicals in America,” Jahn said. “For that to happen we must fix our nation’s transportation supply chain and make it stronger than ever.”

Big Challenges Remain

Jahn noted that railroads have made some progress and recovered from some of the pandemic related issues as demand has eased. However, he explained that many rail service problems continue to negatively impact ACC members.

In fact, ACC’s latest supply chain survey of member companies found that freight transportation challenges are far from over.

More than 80% of companies report that despite recent improvements, conditions remain worse than they were prior to the pandemic. The survey found that 30% of companies said rail service problems were worse in the second half of last year, and more than three quarters reported worse service than before the pandemic.

Congressional Action

Jahn concluded by asking Congress to ensure that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) is equipped to address freight rail issues and complete proceedings in a timely manner, including the Board’s proceeding on reciprocal switching.

He also asked Congress to act on measures that would hold the railroads accountable for poor service and allow more shippers to have rail issues addressed by the STB.

American Chemistry Council

The American Chemistry Council’s mission is to advocate for the people, policy, and products of chemistry that make the United States the global leader in innovation and manufacturing. To achieve this, we: Champion science-based policy solutions across all levels of government; Drive continuous performance improvement to protect employees and communities through Responsible Care®; Foster the development of sustainability practices throughout ACC member companies; and Communicate authentically with communities about challenges and solutions for a safer, healthier and more sustainable way of life. Our vision is a world made better by chemistry, where people live happier, healthier, and more prosperous lives, safely and sustainably—for generations to come.

We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.

Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions