Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110
§15101 Transportation Policy
Title 49 › SUBTITLE IV — INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION › PART C — PIPELINE CARRIERS › CHAPTER 151 — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 15101
Summary
Federal officials must oversee the nation’s transportation system so it is developed, coordinated, and preserved to meet U.S. needs, including national defense. They must keep each travel mode’s strengths; promote safety, adequacy, economy, and efficiency; support healthy transportation economics and fair, nondiscriminatory rates; work with states; and encourage fair wages and working conditions. Agencies must run and enforce these policies.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §15101
Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In General.—
To ensure the development, coordination, and preservation of a transportation system that meets the transportation needs of the United States, including the national defense, it is the policy of the United States Government to oversee the modes of transportation and in overseeing those modes—
(1)to recognize and preserve the inherent advantage of each mode of transportation;
(2)to promote safe, adequate, economical, and efficient transportation;
(3)to encourage sound economic conditions in transportation, including sound economic conditions among carriers;
(4)to encourage the establishment and maintenance of reasonable rates for transportation without unreasonable discrimination or unfair or destructive competitive practices;
(5)to cooperate with each State and the officials of each State on transportation matters; and
(6)to encourage fair wages and working conditions in the transportation industry.
(b)Administration To Carry Out Policy.—
This part shall be administered and enforced to carry out the policy of this section.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Pub. L. 105–102This amends 49:15101(a) to correct a grammatical error.
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 10101 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).
Amendments
1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–102 struck out “of” after “Government to oversee”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title. GAO Report Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 106(b), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 932, directed the Comptroller General, within 3 years after Jan. 1, 1996, to transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report regarding the impact of
Regulations
on the competitiveness of pipelines and to recommend whether to continue, revise, or sunset such
Regulations
.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 15101
Title 49, Transportation
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110