b'14American Journal of Transportation ajot.comI ntermodal& l ogIstIcsn ewsSenate passes boost for infrastructure in victory for BidenTheSenatepasseda$550cant achievement for Schumer billioninfrastructureplanthatand the bipartisan group of 22 wouldrepresentthebiggestsenators led by Republican Rob burst of spending on U.S. publicPortman of Ohio and Democrat worksindecadesandnotchaKyrstenSinemaofArizona, significant victory for Presidentwhosteppedinafterinitial Joe Bidens economic agenda. negotiations between the White The bipartisan 69-30 voteHouseandRepublicanscol-wasabreakthroughthathaslapsed in June.eludedCongressandpresi- Republicans can claim a vic-dentsforyears,despitebothtory in that the package includes partiescallinginfrastructurebigspendingontheirpriori-a priority and an issue ripe forties without raising taxes, while compromise. Biden can lay claim to an accom-Thebipartisanspiritwillplishment decades in the making quicklygiveway,however,aswithout including unpopular gas SenateMajorityLeaderChucktaxes or other levies that would Schumerimmediatelypivotedhave hit the middle class.toapartisanbudgetresolutionThe Senate was unable to get that will lead to a $3.5 trillionunanimousconsenttoapprove package of social spending andabipartisanefforttoreplacea tax increases. cryptocurrencytaxreporting Senate passage of the infra- provision with a more narrowlyKansas City Southern board spurns structure bill came after monthstargetedmeasurethatwould of negotiations and days of slow- requirecertaindigitalcurrencyCP bid, awaits CN rulingmovingSenatedebateduringexchanges to report data to the whichRepublicansopposedtoInternalRevenueService.The the legislation forced Democratscryptocurrency industry said theKansasCitySouthernsboardrejectedlasteven while the merger approval is pending.to run out the clock on proce- original version unfairly targetedweeks bid from Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. andIf the STBs ruling doesnt come before 7 p.m. dural motions. them and was too broad in scope. said it plans to delay a shareholder vote to approveNew York time on Aug. 17, Kansas City Southern Its been a long and wind- Other bipartisan attempts toa$30billionacquisitionbyCanadianNationalsaid it will move back the date for the vote to give ing road but we have persistedalter the bill, including an amend- Railway Co. if the U.S. rail regulator hasnt madeall shareholders and the Board time to receive and andnowwehavearrived,ment that would allow state anda key decision on the deal by days end on Aug. 17. consider the STB decision.Schumersaidbeforethevote.local governments to use some ofThedecisiontowaitfortheU.S.SurfaceCanadian Pacific has said its offer provides a The spending in the legislationtheir unspent Covid relief fundsTransportation Board to make a ruling comes aftersure path to regulatory approval and thats why its willstrengtheneverymajoroninfrastructureprojects,alsoCanadianPacificmadeasecond,higherbidforlower bid should be accepted. The STB has already category of our countrys physi- fell by the wayside. Kansas City Southern on Aug. 10. That bid of $27approved Canadian Pacifics voting trust and the cal infrastructure. TheCongressionalBudgetbillion is still below Canadian Nationals offer, andregulator said it will judge the Canadian National The bill still faces hurdlesOfficesaidtheinfrastructureKansas City Southern urged its shareholders in adeal by a higher standard than Canadian Pacifics in the House, which is scheduledlegislation would add $256 bil- statement to approve the CN deal at an Aug. 19merger proposal.tobeonbreakuntilSept.20.lion to the federal budget deficitshareholders meeting. Still, Kansas City Southern said in the state-HouseSpeakerNancyPelosi,over the next decade. The CBOThe STB, which has sole authority for approv- ment that Canadian Pacifics new unsolicited bid underpressurefromprogres- has previously forecast the defi- ing U.S. rail mergers, has said it plans to rule bydoesnt constitute a company superior proposal, siveswhowanttheirprioritiescit would hit $3 trillion this yearAug.31onCanadianNationalspetitionforaand reaffirmed its recommendation for sharehold-addressed, has said she will notalone before narrowing to $1.15votingtrust,afinancialmechanisminwhicherstosupportthepro-competitive,end-to-end allowavoteonthebipartisantrillion in 2022. Kansas City Southern shareholders would be paidmerger with CN.packageuntiltheSenatehas passedthebroadereconomic plan. Moderates, meanwhile, are clamoring for the House to take up the bill sooner than that. The House may also seek changes to the infrastructure bill.Still, theSenatevoteafter monthsoffraughtnegotiations was a crucial first step for bothSingle Source Solutions S3Bidenseconomicagendaand hisbroaderhopesofshowingLearn how our S3 can empower your intermodal the world Washington can worktransportation program. Its the Single Source again to solve big problems afterSolution that will pay dividends for you from aparticularlydivisiveerainports and rails to warehouse and distribution American politics. solutions nationwide.If the infrastructure package ultimately clears both chambers,LETS CONNECT. 855-4ROADONE every state would feel the effects.One Kellaway Drive(855-476-2366)Itincludesabout$110billionRandolph, MA 02368www.roadone.cominnewspendingforroadsand bridges,$73billionforpower grid upgrades, $66 billion for rail and Amtrak, and $65 billion forSolutions That Connect Corporate Headquartersbroadband expansion. It also pro- Domestic Intermodal Trucking Solutions Regional Officesvides $55 billion for clean waterService Centersand $39 billion for transit. International Intermodal Trucking Solutions Northeast RegionBidenhaddispatchedtopContainer Terminal Solutions Midwest Regionaides to negotiate directly with aRegional Dedicated Truckload Solutions South Regiongroup of Republican and Dem- National Transloading, Warehousing and Distribution Solutions West Regionocratic senators putting the bill togetherandengagedperson-allywithmeetingsandphoneReliabilityTenacitySafetyIntegrityLoyaltycalls. The vote also is a signifi-'