Surface Transportation Board pick gets panel OK

The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved by voice vote the nomination of Martin Oberman.    The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved by voice vote the nomination of Martin Oberman to be a member of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.
   Oberman, who was formerly chairman of Chicago’s Metra and a former city alderman, was nominated by President Trump to fill the Democratic spot on the board for a term ending Dec. 31, 2023.
   His final confirmation still must be approved by the full Senate.
   Also awaiting confirmation for positions on the STB are nominees Patrick J. Fuchs and Michelle A. Schultz.
   “A fully functioning STB committed to adopting sensible freight rail reforms is critical to supporting the tremendous ongoing growth of chemical manufacturing in the United States,” said Mike Walls, vice president of regulatory and technical affairs at the American Chemistry Council, which is also a member of the Rail Customer Coalition.
   The Rail Customer Coalition is pressing the Senate to confirm all three STB nominees.
   “We urge the full Senate to confirm the three well-qualified nominees…without further delay so the STB can complete its deregulatory efforts and open up greater access to competitive and reliable freight rail service,” Walls said.