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U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), a member of the House Financial Services Committee and a strong rail advocate, recently toured Marquette Rail’s yard in Ludington, Mich., to demonstrate his support for the rail industry and the short-line tax credit (Section 45G), according to the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Inc. (NRC).
 
During the visit, rail officials discussed the importance of short lines in Michigan with the congressman and provided an overview of why the tax credit is vital to the short-line industry. Marquette Rail officials reviewed how they used the Section 45G credit for tie installation work at the yard. Since May 2011, Huizenga has been a co-sponsor of the Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act (H.R. 721), which proposes to extend the tax credit, NRC officials said in a press release.
 
Huizenga also met with employees of railroad contractor Harsco Rail, who are performing surfacing work for Marquette Rail, and climbed aboard a tamper to obtain a firsthand look at rail maintenance work, NRC officials said.
 
The tour also provided Harsco Rail, which is an NRC member, an opportunity to demonstrate to Huizenga how rail contractors benefit from freight-rail investments, and what economic development opportunities freight railroads and contractors can bring to a region, they said.