§721. Loans
45 U.S.C. § 721
The Association may not take any action pursuant to the preceding sentence of this subsection after December 31, 1981.
In order to assure that necessary funds are available to the Corporation for implementation of the final system plan, the Corporation is authorized to accept such loans as may be approved by the Association under this subsection, and any such acceptance shall be deemed for all purposes to constitute a reasonable and prudent business judgment in compliance with any fiduciary obligations imposed on the Corporation or its directors. For purposes of this subsection, the term “Corporation” includes a subsidiary of the Corporation.
to the extent that payment is required under a loan agreement with the Association under such paragraph (1).
A copy of each such finding, the reasons therefor, and such direction made by the Finance Committee, together with the comments and recommendations thereon of the Board of Directors of the Association, shall be transmitted to the Congress by the Association within 10 days after the date on which the Finance Committee makes such finding and direction, or if not so transmitted, shall be transmitted by the Finance Committee. Each such finding and direction so transmitted shall become effective immediately, and shall remain in effect, unless, within the first period of 30 calendar days of continuous session of Congress after the date of transmittal of such finding and direction to Congress, either House of Congress disapproves such finding and direction in accordance with the procedures specified in section 688 of title 2. For purposes of this paragraph, continuity of session of Congress is broken only in the circumstances described in section 682(5) of title 2.
Footnotes
Notes, amendments, and revision history
(Pub. L. 93–236, title II, § 211, Jan. 2, 1974, 87 Stat. 1001; Pub. L. 94–5, § 5, Feb. 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 8; Pub. L. 94–210, title VI, § 606, Feb. 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 92; Pub. L. 94–555, title II, §§ 203(a)–(d), 220(a), Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2617, 2619, 2620, 2629; Pub. L. 95–611, § 3(a), Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3089; Pub. L. 96–73, title II, § 204(b), Sept. 29, 1979, 93 Stat. 556; Pub. L. 96–101, § 23, Nov. 4, 1979, 93 Stat. 746; Pub. L. 96–448, title IV, §§ 407, 408, Oct. 14, 1980, 94 Stat. 1948; Pub. L. 105–178, title VII, § 7203(b)(3), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 477.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 77 of the Bankruptcy Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (h)(3)(B), was classified to section 205 of former Title 11, Bankruptcy. The Bankruptcy Act (act July 1, 1898, ch. 541, 30 Stat. 544, as amended) was repealed effective Oct. 1, 1979, by Pub. L. 95–598, §§ 401(a), 402(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2682, section 101 of which enacted revised Title 11. For current provisions relating to railroad reorganization, see subchapter IV (§ 1161 et seq.) of chapter 11 of Title 11.
Section 763 of this title, referred to in subsec. (a), was repealed by Pub. L. 94–210, title VIII, § 806, Feb. 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 143, eff. Apr. 1, 1978.
The Employers’ Liability Act (45 U.S.C. 51–60), referred to in subsec. (h)(1)(A)(v), is act Apr. 22, 1908, ch. 149, 35 Stat. 65, and is classified generally to chapter 2 (§ 51 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 51 of this title and Tables.
Sections 774 and 775 of this title, referred to in subsec. (h)(1)(A)(vi), (B), were repealed by Pub. L. 97–35, title XI, § 1144(a)(1), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 669.
Codification
In the closing par. of subsec. (h)(6)(A), “section 688 of title 2” and “section 682(5) of title 2” substituted for “section 1017 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (31 U.S.C. 1407)” and “section 1011(5) of that Act (31 U.S.C. 1401(5))”, respectively, to reflect the transfer of sections 1407 and 1401 of former Title 31, Money and Finance, to sections 688 and 682 of Title 2, the Congress.
Amendments
1998—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 105–178 struck out heading and text of subsec. (i). Text read as follows: “Upon application by the Corporation or any other railroad, the Secretary shall, pursuant to the provisions of and within the obligational limitations contained in sections 831 through 833 of this title, guarantee obligations of the Corporation or such railroad for the purpose of electrifying high-density mainline routes if the Secretary finds that such electrification will return operating and financial benefits to the Corporation or such railroad and will facilitate compatibility with existing or renewed electrification systems. Upon application by the Corporation or by any railroad in reorganization in the region which receives a loan under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall, pursuant to the provisions of and within the obligational limitations contained in sections 831 through 833 of this title, guarantee obligations of the Corporation or such railroad for purposes of making capital improvements to coal export facilities. The aggregate unpaid principal amount of obligations which may be guaranteed by the Secretary under this paragraph shall not exceed $200,000,000 at any one time.”
1980—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–448, § 408, substituted “Association is not required to make the findings with respect to subsections (e)(3) and (f) and may” for “Association may” in provision preceding par. (1), “$7,500,000” for “$4,000,000” in par. (2), and “December 31, 1981” for “December 31, 1980” in provision following par. (2).
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 96–448, § 407, substituted “Corporation or any other railroad, the Secretary” for “Corporation, the Secretary”, “Corporation or such railroad for the purpose” for “Corporation for the purpose”, and “Corporation or such railroad and will facilitate” for “Corporation and will facilitate” and inserted provision authorizing the Secretary, upon application and with regard to obligational limitations, to guarantee obligations of the Corporation or such railroad for the purposes of making capital improvements to coal export facilities.
1979—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 96–101 substituted “$4,000,000” for “$2,000,000”, “and determines that such railroad is making a good faith effort to establish an employee stock ownership plan for review and approval by the Association” for “and such railroad has in effect an employee stock ownership plan which has been approved by the Association”, and “December 31, 1980” for “December 31, 1979” and inserted provision requiring that any such approval be conditioned upon a written commitment that by December 31, 1980, the railroad will adopt an employee stock ownership plan which will acquire qualifying employer securities with a fair market value of $250,000.
Subsec. (h)(1)(A)(viii). Pub. L. 96–73, § 204(b)(1), substituted “funding for continuation, by the Corporation, of medical and life insurance coverage and benefits for retired employees of railroads in reorganization as required and limited by section 743(b)(6)(B) of this title” for “funding for payment, when due, of medical and life insurance benefits for employees (whether or not their employment was governed by a collective bargaining agreement) on account of their service with a railroad in reorganization prior to the date of conveyance pursuant to section 743(b)(1) of this title, and for individuals who retired, prior to such date of conveyance, from service with a railroad in reorganization”.
Subsec. (h)(6). Pub. L. 96–73, § 204(b)(2)(A)–(C), redesignated existing provisions as subpar. (A), and in subpar. (A) as so redesignated, redesignated former subpars. (A) to (C) as cls. (i) to (iii), respectively, and former cls. (i) and (ii) of former subpar. (A) as subcls. (I) and (II) of cl. (i), respectively, and added subpar. (B).
1978—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–611 inserted provision authorizing increase of loans to railroads until Dec. 31, 1979.
1976—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 94–210 added subsec. (g).
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 94–210 added subsec. (h).
Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 94–555, § 203(a), increased aggregate principal amount of loan agreements, at any given time, to $350,000,000; substituted “such railroads in reorganization” for “the transferors” after “railroad, in behalf of”; struck out “and obligations” after “all other current accounts”; inserted “(including claims for accrued vacation and wages and similar claims arising in connection with labor and services performed)” after “section 153 of this title”; added clauses (vii) to (x) to subpar. (A); authorized Association to make loans pursuant to subpar. (A), as amended, and inserted reference to section 743(b)(6) of this title; inserted provisions that claim arising prior to conveyance of rail properties must be presented to a railroad in reorganization in the region, or the Corporation within 2 years after Oct. 19, 1976, and that loan requested is for direct payment made for services or materials, the furnishing of which avoided disruption of ordinary business relationships prior to date of conveyance or made to avoid postconveyance disruptions; and added subcls. (I) and (II) to cl. (V) relating to provisions to be included in joint agreement between Finance Committee and the Corporation.
Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 94–555, § 203(b), inserted “and for the payment of only those accounts payable which relate to the obligations of the estates identified in paragraph (1) of this subsection” after “section 743(b)(1) of this title”, and inserted provisions relating to the jurisdiction of district courts in railroad reorganization proceedings.
Subsec. (h)(4)(D). Pub. L. 94–555, § 203(c), added subpar. (D).
Subsec. (h)(5)(B). Pub. L. 94–555, § 203(d), inserted provisions relating to filing proof of claim for administrative expense.
Subsec. (h)(6)(A)(i). Pub. L. 94–555, § 220(a), substituted “paragraph (1)(B)(v)” for “paragraph (1)(E)”.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 94–210 added subsec. (i).
1975—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–5, § 5(a), substituted “for purposes of achieving the goals of this chapter” for “for purposes of assisting in the implementation of the final system plan”.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 94–5, § 5(b), substituted “achieve the goals of this chapter” for “carry out the final system plan”.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 94–5, § 5(c), substituted “goals of this chapter” for “goals of the final system plan”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–448 effective Oct. 1, 1980, see section 710(a) of Pub. L. 96–448, set out as a note under section 1170 of Title 11, Bankruptcy.
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–73 effective Nov. 4, 1978, see section 501(b) of Pub. L. 96–73, set out as a note under section 743 of this title.
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–555 effective Oct. 1, 1976, see section 303 of Pub. L. 94–555, set out as a note under section 702 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.