---
kind: "section"
citation: "45 U.S.C. § 718"
title: "45"
title_heading: "Railroads"
number: "718"
heading: "Review by Congress"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/45/718"
units:
  - "Chapter 16 — Regional Rail Reorganization"
  - "Subchapter II — United States Railway Association"
---

# §718. Review by Congress

- (a) **General—** The Board of Directors of the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) shall deliver the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) adopted by the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) to both Houses of Congress and to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. The [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) shall be deemed approved at the end of the first period of 60 calendar days of continuous session of Congress after such date of transmittal unless either the House of Representatives or the Senate passes a resolution during such period stating that it does not favor the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8).
- (b) **Revised plan—** If either the House or the Senate passes a resolution of disapproval under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1), with the cooperation and assistance of the [Secretary](/usc/45/702.md?p=18) and the [Office](/usc/45/702.md?p=12), shall prepare, determine, and adopt a revised [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8). Each such revised plan shall be submitted to Congress for review pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) of this section.
- (c) **Computation—** For purposes of this section—
  - (1) continuity of session of Congress is broken only by an adjournment sine die; and
  - (2) the days on which either House is not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a day certain are excluded in the computation of the 60-day period.
- (d) **Additions—**
  - (1) The supplemental report, dated September 18, 1975, to the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8), and the provisions of the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1)’s official errata supplement to the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8), dated December 1, 1975, including all designations made therein, shall be treated for all purposes as if they had been part of and included in the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) adopted by the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) and reviewed by the Congress. The [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) shall, for all purposes, be deemed to be approved as modified and amended by such supplemental report and such supplement.
  - (2) The [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) may, upon petition of any [State](/usc/45/702.md?p=19), modify the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) to make further designations with respect to [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14) of [railroads](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) in reorganization in the [region](/usc/45/702.md?p=17) designated for transfer to the [Corporation](/usc/45/702.md?p=5) under such plan, if such designations (A) are likely to result in improved rail service on such [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14) and connecting [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14), and (B) would not materially impair the profitability of the [Corporation](/usc/45/702.md?p=5). Such designations, including designations of such [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14) to a [State](/usc/45/702.md?p=19), a [profitable railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=13), or a responsible person, may be made at any time prior to delivery of the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) to the [special court](/usc/45/1104.md?p=8) under [section 719(c) of this title](/usc/45/719.md?p=c). Such further designations shall be treated for all purposes as if they had been included in the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) adopted by the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) and reviewed by the Congress, and the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) shall for all purposes be deemed to be approved as modified by such designations. Any action of the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) with respect to any such petition shall not be subject to review by any court.
  - (3)
    - (A) Within 20 days after February 5, 1976, the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) may, by notice to the Congress and by publication in the Federal Register, modify, supplement, or add to the designations of [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14) in the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) if the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) finds such actions are necessary to—
      - (i) achieve the efficient implementation of the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8), or
      - (ii) provide for the offer to [profitable railroads](/usc/45/702.md?p=13) of [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14) designated in the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) to the [Corporation](/usc/45/702.md?p=5), if such properties are not essential in the operation of other [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14) of the [Corporation](/usc/45/702.md?p=5) but are or would be integrally related to the operation of [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14) of (or which are offered pursuant to the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) to) such [profitable railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=13), or
      - (iii) provide for the designation of additional [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14) to the [Corporation](/usc/45/702.md?p=5) or to a [subsidiary](/usc/45/702.md?p=20) thereof to enable the [Corporation](/usc/45/702.md?p=5) to serve efficiently a line of [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) designated to the [Corporation](/usc/45/702.md?p=5) in the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) if such line does not connect with any other line of [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) so designated to the [Corporation](/usc/45/702.md?p=5) or if such line would be served more efficiently as a consequence of such designation.

      Any designation to a [profitable railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=13) pursuant to this paragraph shall comply with the second sentence of [section 716(d)(4) of this title](/usc/45/716.md?p=d-4), and shall only be made upon a finding by the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) that such designation is integrally related to an offer of [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14) to a [profitable railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=13) in the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8), that the goals of the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) require that the [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14) be operated as a part of the [rail properties](/usc/45/702.md?p=14) included in such offer, and that the implementation of such designation will not materially and adversely affect the impact of such offer on the profitability of the [Corporation](/usc/45/702.md?p=5) or any [profitable railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=13) operating in the [region](/usc/45/702.md?p=17). Any designation to a [profitable railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=13) pursuant to this subsection, which amends any prior offer, shall terminate 30 days after February 5, 1976, unless, prior to such date, such [profitable railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=13) has notified the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) in writing of its acceptance of such amendment to the prior offer.

    - (B) If a line of [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) or any segment thereof is designated for rail service in the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8), no designation may be made by the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) pursuant to this paragraph which would result in such line or segment not being so designated. Any designations made pursuant to this paragraph shall be treated for all purposes as if they had been included in the [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) adopted by the [Association](/usc/45/702.md?p=1) and reviewed by the Congress. The [final system plan](/usc/45/702.md?p=8) shall for all purposes be deemed to be approved as amended by such designations.
    - (C) Any designations made pursuant to this paragraph shall not be subject to review by any court.
    - (D) Any labor agreements entered into under section 778[^1] of this title shall be subject to further negotiations for any modifications which may be necessary to implement designations made pursuant to this paragraph.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–236, title II, § 208, Jan. 2, 1974, 87 Stat. 999; Pub. L. 94–210, title VI, § 601(e), Feb. 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 84; S. Res. 4, Feb. 4, 1977; H. Res. 549, Mar. 25, 1980.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 778 of this title, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(D), was repealed by Pub. L. 97–35, title XI, § 1144(a)(1), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 669.

### Amendments

1976—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94–210 added subsec. (d).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives changed to Committee on Energy and Commerce immediately prior to noon on Jan. 3, 1981, by House Resolution No. 549, Ninety-sixth Congress, Mar. 25, 1980. Committee on Energy and Commerce of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of House of Representatives, in case of provisions of law relating to railroads, railway labor, or railroad retirement and unemployment, by section 1(c)(1) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress.

Committee on Commerce of the Senate abolished and replaced by Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, effective Feb. 11, 1977. See Rule XXV of Standing Rules of the Senate, as amended by Senate Resolution No. 4 (popularly cited as the “Committee System Reorganization Amendments of 1977”), approved Feb. 4, 1977.

### Abolition of Special Court, Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973, and Transfer of Functions

Special court abolished and all jurisdiction and functions transferred to United States District Court for District of Columbia, see section 719(b)(2) of this title.

### Abolition of United States Railway Association and Transfer of Functions and Securities

See section 1341 of this title.

### Applicability of National Environmental Policy Act

Application of National Environmental Policy Act to actions of Commission not affected by title VI of Pub. L. 94–210, see section 619 of Pub. L. 94–210, set out as a note under section 791 of this title.