[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1114-E1115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RAILWAY SAFETY AND FUNDING EQUITY ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 1999

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my friend and 
colleague, Congressman Bill Lipinski to introduce the Railway Safety 
and Funding Equity Act of 1999, also known as RSAFE.
  This legislation addresses the dangerous lack of adequate safety 
infrastructure, such as crossing gates, at highway and railroad grade 
crossing across the country. At many grade crossings, the only safety 
infrastructure between motorists and oncoming trains is a stop sign or 
a crossbuck. In my state of Alabama, only about 30 percent of the grade 
crossings are signalized with gates, lights, or bells. All too often, 
the end result of this lack of adequate safety infrastructure is a 
tragic accident in which someone is horribly injured or killed. Last 
year alone, 428 people died in accidents at railroad grade crossings. 
Indeed, my home state of Alabama ranks ninth in the nation in terms of 
vehicle train crashes.
  These statistics are appalling and unacceptable, especially when we 
have the resources and know how to greatly reduce them. That's why I've 
joined with my colleagues, Bill Lipinski, in introducing RSAFE. This 
legislation would almost double the current federal grade crossing 
improvement program, thereby allowing states to invest heavily in 
constructing adequate safety infrastructure at railroad crossings. 
RSAFE does this by setting aside the 4.3-cent per gallon diesel fuel 
tax that railroads currently pay toward deficit reduction and transfers 
it into the Federal Highway Administration's Section 130 grade crossing 
safety program. This will increase the monies available through this 
program by approximately $125 million, raising the total level from 
$150 million to approximately $275 million for the next 5 years.
  Dedicating the monies derived from this fuel tax toward railroad 
safety infrastructure will have a real and tangible impact on countless 
communities across the country. However, while installing new crossing 
gates and lights will help decrease the number of tragic accidents 
we've seen so many times in the news, this alone is not enough. In 
addition to putting up more physical barriers at railroad crossings, we 
also need to put more money toward educating motorists. That's why 
RSAFE sets aside five percent of this new funding for education and 
awareness campaigns, such as those conducted by Operation Lifesaver. 
Operation Lifesaver is a unique, non-profit organization that works 
with local law enforcement officials and others to make pedestrians and 
motorists aware of the dangers of railroad crossings. It is through 
these combined efforts that we will have the most impact on communities 
and save the most lives.
  I know that my friends in the railroad industry will argue that even 
the imposition of the 4.3-cents tax is unfair and punitive. They will 
argue that they have already invested billions of dollars in 
maintaining and improving their infrastructure. Well, I applaud the 
investment the industry has put into improving grade crossing 
infrastructure. But, I say to my friends in the railroad industry, more 
needs to be done.
  RSAFE does more. Rather than using the revenue raised by this 4.3-
cents tax on deficit reduction, RSAFE plows the money right back into 
railroads, making them safer for the public. Furthermore, after five 
years of increased investment in making our nation's railroad crossings 
safer, RSAFE repeals the 4.3-cents tax. Therefore, with this bill, my 
colleague and I are not trying to penalize or unfairly burden the 
railroad industry. On the contrary, through this bill we are simply 
trying to use the funds the railroad industry is already paying wiser. 
We believe it is far wiser and fairer to use these funds to improve 
railroad grade crossing safety over the next five years and then put in 
place a mechanism by which this tax is repealed, than to put it toward 
deficit reduction.

[[Page E1115]]

  The Railroad Safety and Funding Equity Act of 1999 is a good bill 
which strikes a good balance between industry and public safety. I urge 
my colleagues and my friends in the railroad industry to join 
Representative Lipinski and I in moving this legislation forward. Each 
day we wait, is another day a life is needlessly put at risk.

                          ____________________