---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 15101"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "15101"
heading: "Transportation policy"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/15101"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part C — Pipeline Carriers"
  - "Chapter 151 — General Provisions"
---

# §15101. Transportation policy

- (a) **In General.—** To ensure the development, coordination, and preservation of a [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) system that meets the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) needs of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10), including the national defense, it is the policy of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government to oversee the modes of [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) and in overseeing those modes—
  - (1) to recognize and preserve the inherent advantage of each mode of [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9);
  - (2) to promote safe, adequate, economical, and efficient [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9);
  - (3) to encourage sound economic conditions in [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9), including sound economic conditions among [carriers](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3);
  - (4) to encourage the establishment and maintenance of reasonable [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) for [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) without unreasonable discrimination or unfair or destructive competitive practices;
  - (5) to cooperate with each [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) and the officials of each [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) on [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) matters; and
  - (6) to encourage fair wages and working conditions in the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) industry.
- (b) **Administration To Carry Out Policy.—** This part shall be administered and enforced to carry out the policy of this section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 106(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 921; amended Pub. L. 105–102, § 2(13), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2205.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

### Pub. L. 105–102

This amends 49:15101(a) to correct a grammatical error.

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 10101 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

### Amendments

1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–102 struck out “of” after “Government to oversee”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.

### GAO Report

Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 106(b), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 932, directed the Comptroller General, within 3 years after Jan. 1, 1996, to transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report regarding the impact of regulations on the competitiveness of pipelines and to recommend whether to continue, revise, or sunset such regulations.