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Overtime Relief for Railroaders Introduced in Congress

When the Big Beautiful Bill was passed in July, workers governed by the Railroad Labor Act were not included in a tax break on overtime pay. Today, September 19, 2025, a SMART-TD-backed bill was introduced in Congress to include us in the tax exemption. Read on to learn more about the bill and how you can help get it passed.

Coal trains roll as Michigan power plant gets a lifeline

Powder River coal will continue to flow from Wyoming to Michigan, thanks to an order from the Trump Administration to keep the J.H. Campbell Power Plant in West Olive, Michigan operational for another 90 days. Keeping Campbell open means keeping us on the job and keeping the lights on in Michigan. Read on for the details.

SMART News: Protecting Railroad Retirees’ Future

SMART News sits down with Greg Hynes, SMART-TD’s national director of the safety and legislative department, and Phil Qualy, retired Minnesota safety and legislative director to discuss the critical implications of proposed cuts within the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).

DOGE to close seven RRB Regional Offices

SMART TD is addressing the closure of seven Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Regional Offices, as announced by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which plans to cancel their leases. The RRB has requested an exemption to keep these offices open, and SMART-TD is actively working with lawmakers to highlight the importance of these services.

Oberman to TD: Vote for your own future

In a letter to SMART-TD members, Marty Oberman, retired chair of the Surface Transportation Board, details the progress and policies at risk in this election. “The protections of rail workers … depends a lot on whether these important offices are filled by a worker-oriented administration. We will need an Administration that will appoint officials who care about rail workers and continue the aggressive oversight [provided] by the current Democratic-led STB and FRA.”