[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 202 (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1687-E1688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE SAVE OUR COMMUNITIES FROM RISKY TRAINS ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 12, 2017

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, in light of recent train derailments across 
the country and ongoing transportation security threats, I rise to 
introduce the Save Our Community from Risky Trains Act, which directs 
the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to find ways to the 
greatest extent possible to reroute trains that are carrying certain 
hazardous materials from selected high-threat urban areas, including 
the District of Columbia. This legislation is needed now more than 
ever, especially given DOT's recent announcement that it will rescind a 
requirement that rail tank cars carrying crude oil be outfitted with an 
advanced braking system designed to prevent derailments.
  Derailments of rail cars carrying hazardous materials are a serious 
concern and should be a priority of Congress. In 2016, 16 cars of a CSX 
freight train derailed in a dense residential neighborhood of the 
nation's capital, disrupting Metrorail, passenger rail, and freight 
rail service and putting families at risk. Among the derailed freight 
train cars, cars carrying sodium hydroxide, calcium chloride and 
ethanol--which is flammable and led to a Metrorail shutdown--spilled. 
The neighborhood was lucky that there were no injuries, but the 
continuing threat to the safety and security of urban communities is 
clear.
  In 2007, the House passed the Rail and Public Transportation Security 
Act of 2007, which included my amendment to protect the

[[Page E1688]]

District and similar communities nationwide from dangerous hazardous 
material shipments by mandating that federal regulations and penalties 
be developed to increase security and safety for the shipment of these 
materials through high-threat urban areas. My amendment was not 
included in the final bill signed into law. While freight companies 
have begun working with DOT to voluntarily reroute the shipment of 
certain materials that are toxic or poisonous by inhalation, or 
explosive from these communities, there is no federal law requiring 
them to reroute the materials.
  This bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to issue 
regulations to require enhanced security measures for shipments of 
security-sensitive materials. The bill also requires railroad carriers 
to use the most secure route and storage pattern to avoid moving 
certain hazardous materials by rail through selected high-threat urban 
areas. These security sensitive materials include a highway route-
controlled quantity of a Class 7 (radioactive) material; more than 25 
kilograms of a division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosive; more than one liter 
per package of a material poisonous by inhalation; shipment in other 
than a bulk packaging of 2,268 kilograms gross weight or more of one 
class of hazardous materials for which placarding of a vehicle, rail 
car or freight container is required; and select agents or toxins 
regulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  High-profile derailments in North Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, 
and Canada demonstrate the need for this legislation. Ethanol, which is 
flammable, still travels through big cities, and even within a few 
blocks of the U.S. Capitol. This bill will protect our communities from 
the risk created by trains carrying hazardous materials.
  I urge support for this bill.

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