[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 161 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 660--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF THE 
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 29, 2018, AS RAIL SAFETY WEEK IN 
 THE UNITED STATES, AND SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF RAIL SAFETY 
    WEEK TO REDUCE RAIL-RELATED ACCIDENTS, FATALITIES, AND INJURIES

  Mr. NELSON (for himself, Mr. Thune, Mr. Peters, and Mrs. Fischer) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 660

       Whereas the first Rail Safety Week was held from September 
     24 through September 30, 2017, by the national education 
     safety nonprofit Operation Lifesaver, the Department of 
     Transportation, and other organizations;
       Whereas Rail Safety Week was launched to raise awareness 
     about the need for increased education on how to be safe 
     around highway-rail grade crossings and railroad tracks, and 
     to highlight efforts to further reduce collisions, injuries, 
     and fatalities;
       Whereas highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing 
     accidents constituted approximately 96 percent of all rail 
     related fatalities in fiscal year 2017;
       Whereas the number of public crossings has declined 8 
     percent, while the number of gates increased by 30 percent, 
     since 2005;
       Whereas, in 2017, 49 percent of all grade crossing 
     collisions and 61 percent of all fatal grade crossing 
     collisions occurred at gated crossings;
       Whereas while grade crossing injuries are 16 percent lower, 
     grade crossing fatalities are 6 percent lower, and grade 
     crossing collisions are 13 percent lower since 2008, 
     challenges remain;
       Whereas, in 2017, there were 824 rail-related fatalities 
     and 8,712 rail-related injuries in the United States;
       Whereas preliminary Federal statistics show that more than 
     2,117 highway-grade crossing crashes occurred during 2017, 
     resulting in 272 persons killed and another 833 injured 
     across the United States;
       Whereas trespassing incidents on railroad property resulted 
     in 512 persons killed and another 508 injured across the 
     Nation in 2017;
       Whereas many collisions between trains and motor vehicles 
     or pedestrians could have been prevented by increased 
     education, engineering, and enforcement;
       Whereas Operation Lifesaver, the foremost public 
     information and education program on rail safety, administers 
     a public education program about grade-crossing safety and 
     prevention of trespassing;
       Whereas during Rail Safety Week, from September 23 through 
     29, and throughout the year, everyone is encouraged to 
     observe added caution as motorists or pedestrians approach 
     tracks or trains;
       Whereas, for the first time, the United States and Canada 
     will observe Rail Safety Week concurrently; and
       Whereas this important observance should lead to greater 
     safety awareness and a reduction in highway-rail grade 
     crossing crashes and pedestrian and railroad incidents: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of Rail Safety Week;
       (2) expresses strong support for the goals and ideals of 
     Rail Safety Week and efforts to reduce rail-related 
     accidents, fatalities, and injuries; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to 
     participate in Rail Safety Week events and activities and to 
     educate themselves and others on how to be safe around 
     railroad tracks.

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