1.1     A resolution&#10;1.2     memorializing Congress to support H.R. 3318, the Railroad Antitrust and &#10;1.3     Competition Enhancement Act.&#10;1.4     WHEREAS, freight rail service in Minnesota is vital to the health of our state's economy, &#10;1.5     with major impacts on agriculture, forest products, utilities, and manufacturing, affecting &#10;1.6     consumer pocketbooks, as well as economic development and jobs; and  &#10;1.7     WHEREAS, in 1980, when Congress deregulated most railroad activities, the United States &#10;1.8     had 40 major railroads, but today there are only seven Class I railroads, and four of those control &#10;1.9     90 percent of the nation's freight rail traffic; and &#10;1.10    WHEREAS, the concentration of rail service among fewer carriers has led to more "captive &#10;1.11    shippers," customers with one railroad as their only transportation option, and has recently led to &#10;1.12    dramatically increasing transportation costs for rail service to bulk commodity industries; and&#10;1.13    WHEREAS, the freight rail industry enjoys both freedom from extensive federal regulation &#10;1.14    and an exemption from the federal antitrust laws, creating an uncompetitive environment that &#10;1.15    hampers the development of competitive forces that might restrain transportation price increases; &#10;1.16    and&#10;1.17    WHEREAS, electric power suppliers to Minnesota consumers are a key component of a &#10;1.18    healthy Minnesota economy, and heavily rely upon rail service for fuel delivery, and they are &#10;1.19    incurring dramatically increased rail service costs and a declining quality of rail service with &#10;1.20    utilities reporting near doubling of rail rates for moving coal to electric generators; and&#10;2.1     WHEREAS, higher rail rates and deteriorating service have greatly affected agriculture, the &#10;2.2     state's number one industry, by restraining the ability of our state's farmers to remain competitive &#10;2.3     in the global marketplace; NOW, THEREFORE,  &#10;2.4     BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that Congress repeal the &#10;2.5     current antitrust exemption of the railroad industry from the nation's antitrust laws in order &#10;2.6     to increase competition and ultimately lower prices to benefit our Minnesota economy and &#10;2.7     consumers. &#10;2.8     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is &#10;2.9     directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United &#10;2.10    States, the President and the Secretary of the Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the House &#10;2.11    of Representatives, the Chairs of the House and Senate committees on transportation, and &#10;2.12    Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.&#10;