Staggers Act

From ArticleWorld

The 1980 Staggers Railroad Act provided for the de-regulation of railroads. This new act provided replacement structure for the regulatory structure that had been in existence since the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The new legislation enabled railroads to determine the routes and expansion of their rail systems as well as the fee structure which they would impose on their customers.

One of the more notable facts about this act was that it marked the first time that the congressional sponsor of a Bill has their name officially attached to piece of federal legislation in the United States.

Harley Staggers (D-WV) was the namesake of the act, and in 1980 he was the Congressman who chaired the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee.