Title 45RailroadsRelease 119-73

§723 Emergency assistance pending implementation

Title 45 › Chapter CHAPTER 16— - REGIONAL RAIL REORGANIZATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - UNITED STATES RAILWAY ASSOCIATION › § 723

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows the Secretary to pay trustees of railroads in reorganization the money needed to keep essential train service running until the final system plan starts. Payments are made on reasonable terms the Secretary sets, and recipients must keep providing service at least at the level in effect on January 2, 1974. If the money is used for maintenance or improvements on designated rail property until it is transferred, the agreement must include the conditions listed in section 725(b). Up to $282,000,000 may be appropriated for these payments, to remain available until spent. Of that amount, $50,000,000 is reserved only to pay trustees sums equal to revenues from tariff increases that were proposed and suspended by the Interstate Commerce Commission during calendar year 1975, if the Secretary decides those payments are needed.

Full Legal Text

Title 45, §723

Railroads — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary is authorized, pending the implementation of the final system plan, to pay to the trustees of railroads in reorganization such sums as are necessary for the continued provision of essential transportation services by such railroads. Such payments shall be made by the Secretary upon such reasonable terms and conditions as the Secretary establishes, except that recipients must agree to maintain and provide service at a level no less than that in effect on January 2, 1974. Where the Secretary and the trustees agree that funds provided pursuant to this section are to be used (together with funds provided pursuant to section 725 of this title, if any) to perform program maintenance on designated rail properties until the date rail properties are conveyed under this chapter or to improve such designated properties, such agreement shall contain the conditions set forth in section 725(b) of this title.
(b)There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section such sums as are necessary, not to exceed $282,000,000, to remain available until expended. Of amounts authorized to be appropriated under this subsection, $50,000,000 shall be available solely to pay to the trustees of railroads in reorganization such sums as may be necessary to provide such railroads with amounts equal to revenues attributable to tariff increases proposed by such railroads and suspended by the Interstate Commerce Commission during the calendar year 1975, if the Secretary determines that such payments are necessary to carry out this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1975—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–5, § 6(a), inserted provision that, where Secretary and trustees agree that funds provided pursuant to this section are to be used (together with funds provided pursuant to section 725 of this title, if any) to perform program maintenance on designated rail properties until date rail properties are conveyed under this chapter or to improve such designated properties, such agreement contain conditions set forth in section 725(b) of this title. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–5, § 6(b), substituted “$282,000,000” for “$85,000,000” and inserted provision that, of amounts authorized to be appropriated under this subsection $50,000,000 be available solely to pay to trustees of railroads in reorganization sums necessary to provide railroads with amounts equal to revenues attributable to tariff increases proposed by railroads and suspended by Interstate Commerce Commission during calendar year 1975, if Secretary determines that payments are necessary to carry out this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Abolition of Interstate Commerce Commission and

Transfer of Functions

Interstate Commerce Commission abolished and functions of Commission transferred, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, to Surface Transportation Board effective Jan. 1, 1996, by section 1302 of Title 49, Transportation, and section 101 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of Title 49. References to Interstate Commerce Commission deemed to refer to Surface Transportation Board, a member or employee of the Board, or Secretary of Transportation, as appropriate, see section 205 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of Title 49.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

45 U.S.C. § 723

Title 45Railroads

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73