[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                INTRODUCING THE CRUDE-BY-RAIL SAFETY ACT

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                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 15, 2015

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
increase the safety of transporting crude oil by rail. Explosive growth 
in crude-by-rail transport in recent months has led to increased rail 
traffic and an unprecedented rise in rail accidents--sometimes with 
fatal results. This issue has affected communities across the nation 
and cemented the need to increase safety standards and accountability. 
Four derailments in the US and Canada in under a month earlier this 
year underscored the urgency of action to curb the risks of 
transporting volatile crude oil.
   The Crude-By-Rail Safety Act addresses a number of shortcomings in 
our approach to transporting volatile crude oil near and through many 
American towns and cities. It includes provisions to lower oil 
volatility, prohibits use of unsafe DOT-111 tank cars, strengthens tank 
car standards, improves oil spill response readiness, and increases 
fines for violating volatility standards and hazmat transport 
standards. It also requires disclosure of train movements through 
communities as well as the implementation of a confidential close-call 
reporting system to further increase the safety of transporting crude 
oil by rail.
   Last summer, a derailment in my district in Seattle exposed the 
vulnerabilities in our current standards, and how easily we risk 
exposing our communities to danger from oily spills or fiery 
explosions. We risk too much--our urban centers, our clean waterways, 
our natural environment, our robust transportation network, our 
pocketbooks--in sitting back and waiting for an accident to wreak havoc 
on our communities. We must continue to fight for stronger standards 
and accountability, and this bill offers a comprehensive approach 
toward tackling this urgent threat. I urge my colleagues to support 
this legislation. Thank you.

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