[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN HONOR OF THE HONORABLE JOLENE MOLITORIS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a distinguished 
public servant and a truly remarkable woman, the current Administrator 
of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Jolene Molitoris.
  A true champion of railroad safety, Jolene Molitoris was appointed by 
the President of the United States William J. Clinton, to be the first 
female Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration in 1993. In 
her tireless effort to improve safety in the United States and around 
the world, Administrator Molitoris established zero tolerance for any 
safety hazard as the industry standard. In addition, she created 
partnerships with rail labor and management, achieving historic 
increases in all safety categories. As a testament to the outstanding 
leadership of Administrator Molitoris, the FRA began its transformation 
from a traditional regulatory agency into a result and consumer-focused 
organization.
  Under Administrator Molitoris' management (1993-1999), the public 
enjoyed the safest seven-year period in history. During this period 
there was a 43-percent reduction in employee injuries and fatalities 
and a 30-percent reduction in grade crossing injuries and deaths.
  Throughout her years of public service, Administrator Molitoris has 
received many honors, including being named by Railway Age Magazine as 
one of the 16 most respected and admired ``Great Railroaders of the 
20th Century.'' In 1999, Administrator Molitoris received three awards: 
the Ellis Island Medal of Honor awarded by the National Ethnic 
Coalition of Organizations Foundation, Inc; and the Jolene M. Molitoris 
Golden Spike Award created by the Indiana High Speed Rail Association. 
Also, in 1999, the New Jersey Division of the Polish American Congress 
honored Administrator Molitoris as their Millennium Woman of the Year.
  On a personal note, I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with 
Jolene Molitoris on a great many initiatives. I have great respect and 
admiration for her public service career. She is a person of solid 
integrity who possesses a true desire to serve the public's best 
interest. She is an individual of tremendous talent and her leadership 
of the FRA will be long remembered.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in rising to honor this truly 
remarkable public servant for her distinguished years of service, and 
her dedication to making our Nation's railways safer.

                          ____________________