The Senate on Wednesday night confirmed two new STB commissioners, Patrick Fuchs and Martin Oberman.
They join board Chairman Ann Begeman on the railroad regulatory body, which remains idled during the partial government shutdown.
Begeman became the board’s lone member on Jan. 1, the day after former commissioner Deb Miller’s term expired.
But the board, which was expanded to five members from three in 2015, remains below full strength.
The Senate did not advance the nomination of Michelle Schultz. She must now be renominated in order to be considered by the new Congress, which begins its first session today.
Association of American Railroads CEO Ian Jefferies applauded the confirmations.
“As Congress helps the board get closer to a full complement of five members, we believe that the agency is now one step closer to realizing its congressional charter to maintain a proven economic framework that allows the industry to earn the revenues it needs to serve a vast set of customers, while providing appropriate regulatory protections for these same rail shippers,” Jefferies said in a statement.
