As the 119th Congress and the new Administration begin their work, RSI staff have already been laying the foundation for meaningful collaboration. Beginning in December 2024, RSI President and RSI’s government affairs staff began preparing for the upcoming administration change by meeting with public liaison and Department of Transportation (DOT) transition teams to advocate for continued federal investment for the rail industry.
Meetings were held with former DOT staff under the first Trump Administration including with those expecting to return to DOT in similar or elevated roles. Those meetings highlighted rail supply priorities for both freight and passenger rail and messaging around issues of common interest.
On December 17, RSI President Patty Long, GR staff Ashley Shelton and Matthew Delaney and GPAC Chairman Jack Isselmann of The Greenbrier Companies met with the DOT transition team led by Howard “Skip” Elliot. During this meeting, RSI detailed the economic benefits of freight and passenger rail and opportunities for collaboration particularly related to promoting innovation and growth in the rail space.
On Capitol Hill, RSI staff continue to meet with key leadership offices as well as prioritizing new members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The RSI’s Government and Public Affairs Committee will be holding an in-person meeting on Tuesday, February 4 in Washington, D.C. For more information on participating, please contact Ashley Shelton at ashelton@rsiweb.org.
About the Railway Supply Institute (RSI)
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) is dedicated to advancing safety, innovation, technology, and sustainability within the freight and passenger railway supplier industry, both in North America and global markets. As the voice of the industry, RSI strategically engages in critical and urgent industry matters by leveraging the technical expertise of our members to advocate in the legislative and regulatory arenas, foster education, host impactful events, and facilitate networking opportunities. For more information visit www.rsiweb.org, follow RSI on Twitter and LinkedIn.