45 U.S.C. § 743
(a) Deposit with court Within 10 days after delivery of a certified copy of a final system plan pursuant to section 719(c) of this title—
(b) Conveyance of rail properties
(3)
(A)
(ii) A conveyance referred to in clause (i) of this subparagraph may be effected only if—
As used in this subparagraph, the term “railroad rolling stock” means assets which could be carried in Interstate Commerce Commission account numbers 52, 53, 54, and 57.
(6)
(B) The Corporation shall, through the purchase of insurance or otherwise, maintain in effect any medical insurance coverage or so much of any life insurance coverage that does not exceed in death benefits an amount equal to twice the employee’s annual salary at the time of retirement or $60,000, whichever is lower, which coverage was maintained by a railroad in reorganization in the region immediately prior to , and which provides insurance benefits to employees who retired, prior to , from service with such a railroad. With respect to any such employee whose medical or life insurance coverage lapsed after , due to nonpayment of premiums, the Corporation shall—
(ii) assume and pay any claim for such employee (or his personal representative) for any such insurance benefits, if—
except that such death benefits shall not be paid for any such employee in excess of an amount equal to twice the employee’s annual salary at the time of retirement or $60,000, whichever is lower.
The Corporation shall be entitled to a loan pursuant to section 721(h) of this title in an amount required for the payment of insurance premiums and benefits described in this subparagraph. For purposes of section 721(h)(4)(A)(iii) of this title, amounts required for the payment of such premiums and benefits shall be deemed to be valid administrative claims against the respective estates of the railroads in reorganization, due and payable as of , or, in the case of a railroad in reorganization which is not subject to a bankruptcy proceeding, such amounts shall be deemed to be obligations of such railroad, due and payable as of such date, and shall be reimbursable in accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraphs (4) and (5) of such section 721(h) of this title. As used in this subparagraph, the term “railroad in reorganization” includes any railroad which is controlled by a railroad in reorganization but is not itself subject to a bankruptcy proceeding, if such railroad conveyed substantially all of its rail properties to the Corporation pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection and conducted operations over such rail properties prior to the date of such conveyance.
(c) Findings and distribution
(1) After the rail properties have been conveyed to the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof, profitable railroads operating in the region, States, and responsible persons under subsection (b) of this section, the special court, giving due consideration to the findings contained in the final system plan, shall decide—
(A) whether the transfers or conveyances—
are in the public interest and are fair and equitable to the estate of each railroad in reorganization in accordance with the standard of fairness and equity applicable to the approval of a plan of reorganization or a step in such a plan under section 77 of the Bankruptcy Act, or fair and equitable to a railroad that is not itself in reorganization but which is leased, operated, or controlled by a railroad in reorganization;
(2) If the special court finds that the terms of one or more exchanges for certificates of value and other benefits are not fair and equitable to an estate of a railroad in reorganization, or to a railroad leased, operated, or controlled by a railroad in reorganization (taking into consideration compensable unconstitutional erosion, if any, which the special court finds to have occurred in the estate of each such railroad, during the bankruptcy proceeding with respect to such railroad), which has transferred rail properties pursuant to the final system plan, it may—
(5) Whenever the special court, pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this section, orders the transfer or conveyance of rail properties—
plus interest on the amount of such judgment at such rate as is constitutionally required. The United States may, in its discretion, represent the Corporation or the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, such profitable railroad, State or responsible person, in any proceedings before the special court that could result in such a judgment against the Corporation under paragraph (2) of this subsection or against the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, such profitable railroad, State or responsible person, under paragraph (3) of this subsection. The Corporation, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, any profitable railroad, State, or responsible person, which is represented by the United States of America shall cooperate diligently in whatever manner the United States shall reasonably request of it in connection with such proceedings. Neither the Corporation, or its subsidiaries, nor the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, any profitable railroad, State or responsible person, shall be obligated to reimburse the United States for any moneys paid by the United States pursuant to this section.
(6) Whenever the Corporation exercises an option to acquire, or acquires, interests in rail marine freight floating equipment pursuant to the recommendations of the final system plan, and the Corporation thereafter makes such floating equipment available to a profitable railroad operating in the region, a State, or a responsible person including 3 a government entity), the United States shall indemnify—
plus interest on the amount of such judgment at such rate as is constitutionally required.
(Pub. L. 93–236, title III, § 303, , 87 Stat. 1005; Pub. L. 94–5, § 8, , 89 Stat. 9; Pub. L. 94–210, title VI §§ 601(d), 612(a), (c)–(i), (k), (l), (n)–(q), , 90 Stat. 84, 107–111; Pub. L. 94–436, §§ 3, 5, , 90 Stat. 1398, 1399; Pub. L. 94–555, title II, §§ 202(b), 204, 220(b), , 90 Stat. 2616, 2620, 2629; Pub. L. 95–199, § 4, , 91 Stat. 1424; Pub. L. 95–597, § 1, , 92 Stat. 2547; Pub. L. 96–73, title II, § 204(a), , 93 Stat. 556; Pub. L. 97–35, title XI, § 1167(a), , 95 Stat. 686; Pub. L. 100–352, § 6(e), , 102 Stat. 664; Pub. L. 103–272, § 7(b), , 108 Stat. 1379; Pub. L. 104–317, title VI, § 605(b)(2), , 110 Stat. 3858.)
Section 77 of the Bankruptcy Act, referred to in subsecs. (b)(3)(B) and (c)(1)(A)(ii), 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 , by Pub. L. 95–598, §§ 401(a), 402(a), , 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 775 of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(6)(A), was repealed by Pub. L. 97–35, title XI, § 1144(a)(1), , 95 Stat. 669.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (b)(6)(A), is Pub. L. 93–406, , 88 Stat. 829. Title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 is classified principally to subchapter III (§ 1301 et seq.) of chapter 18 of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of Title 29 and Tables.
The amendments made by section 612(i)(4) of Pub. L. 94–210 could be read as substituting “certificates of value” for “obligations” in subsecs. (b)(3)(A), (b)(5), and (b)(6), as added by section 612(a) and (l) of Pub. L. 94–210. However, this substitution is not appropriate in the context of the new subsecs. (b)(3)(A), (b)(5), and (b)(6).
1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–317 substituted “Appeal” for “Review” in heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A finding or determination entered by the special court pursuant to subsection (c) of this section or section 746 of this title shall be reviewable only upon petition for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States. Such review is exclusive and any such petition shall be filed in the Supreme Court not more than 20 days after entry of such finding or determination.”
1994—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–272 struck out “title VII of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 or of” before “section 791(d)”.
1988—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–352 substituted “Review” for “Appeal” in heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A finding or determination entered by the special court pursuant to subsection (c) of this section or section 746 of this title may be appealed directly to the Supreme Court of the United States in the same manner that an injunction order may be appealed under section 1253 of title 28: Provided, That such appeal is exclusive and shall be filed in the Supreme Court not more than 20 days after such finding or determination is entered by the special court. The Supreme Court shall dismiss any such appeal within 7 days after the entry of such an appeal if it determines that such an appeal would not be in the interest of an expeditious conclusion of the proceedings and shall grant the highest priority to the determination of any such appeals which it determines not to dismiss.”
1981—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–35 struck out all references to securities wherever appearing in text, and reference to share of series B preferred stock.
1979—Subsec. (b)(6)(B). Pub. L. 96–73 inserted provisions which limited coverage to amount that does not exceed in death benefits amount equal to twice the employee’s annual salary at time of retirement or $60,000, whichever is lower, provided for maintenance of regional coverage, and in cases of lapsed coverage due to nonpayment of premiums prescribed the same limitation for claims arising during the lapsed period or thereafter.
1978—Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 95–597 redesignated existing provisions as subpar. (A), redesignated clauses (A) and (B) as (i) and (ii), respectively, and added subpar. (B).
1977—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–199 substituted “entered by the special court pursuant to subsection (c) of this section or section 746 of this title” for “entered pursuant to subsection (c) of this section”.
1976—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(c)(1), (i), inserted “or any subsidiary thereof” before “, shall deposit”, and substituted “certificates of value issued by” for “obligations of”.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(d)(1), inserted reference to each State or responsible person (including a governmental entity).
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(c)(2), (d)(2), (i), (o), (p), inserted “or any subsidiary thereof” after “to the Corporation”, “States, and responsible persons” before “order the trustee”, and provisions relating to orders of the trustee or trustees to execute and deliver deeds or other instruments conveying rail properties, and substituted “person leased” for “railroad leased”, “, the respective profitable railroads operating in the region, States, and responsible persons” for “and the respective profitable railroads operating in the region”, and “certificates of value issued by” for “obligations of”.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(c)(2), (d)(3), inserted “or any subsidiary thereof” after “Corporation” and reference to States and responsible persons.
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(a), redesignated existing provisions as subpar. (A)(ii), made changes in phraseology, inserted definition of “railroad rolling stock” and struck out provisions relating to affect of chapter on title and interests of any lessor, etc., and added subpar. (A)(i) and (B).
Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(d)(4), (k), inserted “all future liability under such lease and” after “is made assumes”, and substituted “, profitable railroad, State, or responsible person” for “or the profitable railroad”.
Subsec. (b)(5), (6). Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(l), added pars. (5) and (6).
Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 94–555, § 204, inserted provisions entitling the Corporation to a loan to fund accrued, non-guaranteed pension benefits under all plans transferred or assigned to the Corporation, whether terminated or not, and such loan is to be charged to the estate of railroad in reorganization as an administrative expense.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(c)(3), (d)(5), (6), (i), (q)(1), (2), in introductory text inserted “or any subsidiary thereof” after “Corporation” and inserted reference to States and responsible persons, in subpar. (A)(i) inserted “or any subsidiary thereof” after “Corporation” and “, certificates of value” after “securities”, and inserted provision relating to consideration of compensable unconstitutional erosion, in subpar. (A)(ii) inserted reference to State or responsible person, and provision relating to compensation and other benefits accruing to such transferor as a result of the exchange, and in subpar. (C) inserted “or any subsidiary thereof” after “Corporation”.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(c)(4), (e), (i), (q)(3), in introductory text inserted reference to certificates of value and provision relating to consideration of compensable unconstitutional erosion, and substituted “may” for “shall”, in subpar. (A) inserted reference to any subsidiary of a Corporation, exception relating to allocation to each such railroad of preferred stock, etc., “, certificates of value” after “securities” and “and certificates of value” after “of the Corporation”, in subpar. (B) inserted “and certificates of value” after “Corporation’s securities” and “, certificates of value” after “other securities”, and substituted “certificates of value issued by the Association” for “obligations of the Association”, and in subpar. (C) generally revised criteria for entering a judgment against the Corporation.
Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 94–555, § 220(b)(1), (2), substituted “securities and certificates of value” for “securities and certificates of value of the Corporation and certificates of value” after “reallocating the” and “they have” for “it has” after “equitable manner”.
Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 94–555, § 220(b)(3), (4), substituted “securities and certificates of value” for “Corporation’s securities, certificates of value” after “reallocation of”, and substituted “other securities” for “other securities and certificates of value” after “the railroad of”.
Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 94–555, § 220(b)(5), substituted “subsection (a)(2) of this section” for “section 303(a)(2)”, in the original, necessitating no change in text.
Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(d)(7), (i), (n), (q)(4), inserted references to States or responsible persons wherever appearing, provisions relating to unreimbursed payments made by the profitable railroad on behalf of the transferor railroad in reorganization, provisions relating to consideration by the special court of compensable unconstitutional erosion, and “certificates of value” after “securities”, and substituted “certificates of value” for “obligations”.
Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(d)(8), (h), (i), inserted “, States, and responsible persons” after “profitable railroads” and “and to persons leased, operated, or controlled by such railroads who so transferred or conveyed rail properties” after “region”, and substituted “(a)” for “(b)” and “certificates of value” for “obligations”.
Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 94–436, § 3, restructured first sentence limiting indemnification of United States to judgments against Corporation or any subsidiary entered pursuant to par. (2) and to judgments against the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, profitable railroads, a State, or any responsible person entered pursuant to par. (3).
Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(f), added par. (5).
Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 94–555, § 202(b), added par. (6).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94–210, § 612(g), substituted “20” for “5”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 94–436, § 5, inserted, after “section 745 of this title” in second parenthetical expression, “or which are made at any time to carry out the purposes of title VII of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 or section 791 of this title”.
Pub. L. 94–210, § 601(d), added subsec. (e).
1975—Subsec. (c)(1)(C). Pub. L. 94–5 added subpar. (C).
Amendment by Pub. L. 104–317 effective 90 days after , and except as otherwise provided, applicable to proceedings that arise or continue after such effective date, see section 605(e) of Pub. L. 104–317, set out as a note under section 719 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–352 effective ninety days after , except that such amendment not to apply to cases pending in Supreme Court on such effective date or affect right to review or manner of reviewing judgment or decree of court which was entered before such effective date, see section 7 of Pub. L. 100–352, set out as a note under section 1254 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Amendment by Pub. L. 97–35 effective , see section 1169 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1101 of this title.
Pub. L. 96–73, title V, § 501(b), , 93 Stat. 558, provided that:
“The amendments made by section 204 of this Act [enacting subsec. (b)(6)(B) of this section and section 721(h)(1)(A)(viii), (6) of this title] shall be effective as of the date of enactment [
Nov. 4, 1978] of
Pub. L. 95–597.”
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–555 effective , see section 303 of Pub. L. 94–555, set out as a note under section 702 of this title.
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.
Interstate Commerce Commission abolished and functions of Commission transferred, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, to Surface Transportation Board effective , by section 1302 of Title 49, Transportation, and section 101 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of Title 49. References to Interstate Commerce Commission deemed to refer to Surface Transportation Board, a member or employee of the Board, or Secretary of Transportation, as appropriate, see section 205 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of Title 49.
See section 1341 of this title.
For applicability of amendment by Pub. L. 104–317 to cases pending in special court established under section 719(b) of this title, see section 605(d) of Pub. L. 104–317, set out as a note under section 719 of this title.
Pub. L. 95–597, § 2, , 92 Stat. 2548, provided that:
“The conferring of administrative claim status on amounts paid for the insurance premiums and benefits described in the amendment made by the first section of this Act [amending this section] shall be effective solely for purposes of meeting the conditions set forth in section 211(h)(4)(A)(iii) of the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 [section 721(h)(4)(A)(iii) of this title] with respect to which obligations of the estate of a railroad in reorganization may be paid pursuant to such section 211(h) [section 721(h) of this title], and shall not be construed—
- “(1) as affecting the jurisdiction of the district court having jurisdiction over such a railroad in reorganization to determine whether such insurance premiums and benefits constitute enforceable contractual obligations of the estate of such a railroad for purposes of reimbursement under such section 211(h) [section 721(h) of this title]; or
- “(2) as establishing or reordering any priority which a claim against the estate of such a railroad for reimbursement for the amounts paid for such insurance premiums and benefits may or may not have under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Act [section 1 et seq. of former Title 11, Bankruptcy] or any other law.”
Pub. L. 95–597, § 3, , 92 Stat. 2548, provided that:
“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any corporation which, pursuant to a plan of reorganization under section 77 of the Bankruptcy Act [section 205 of former Title 11, Bankruptcy], is the successor in interest to a railroad in reorganization shall have standing to assert, in any judicial or administrative proceeding, any claim or defense available to such railroad in reorganization with respect to whether the insurance benefits and premiums described in the amendment made by the first section of this Act [amending this section] constitute enforceable contractual obligations of the estate of such railroad in reorganization. For purposes of this section, the term ‘railroad in reorganization’ has the meaning given such term in paragraph (14) of section 102 of the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 [
section 702(14) of this title].”
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.
1 So in original.
2 See References in Text note below.
3 So in original. Probably should be “(including”.