[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 8, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Rail Safety

  Now, Mr. President, on rail, yesterday, the NTSB announced the 
opening of a special investigation into Norfolk Southern's organization 
and safety culture in light of multiple derailments, including the 
toxic derailment in East Palestine last month.
  When Norfolk Southern's CEO, Alan Shaw, comes before the Senate 
tomorrow, I expect him to own up to his company's spotty safety 
culture, particularly the increasingly apparent pattern of negligence, 
because you don't need a full investigation to understand that when 
rail companies willingly neglect safety upgrades, push for looser 
regulations, and lay off workers, they are asking for disaster.
  So, tomorrow, I want to hear from Norfolk Southern's CEO as to why 
they spent years lobbying for looser regulations designed to prevent 
accidents like this, particularly when Trump was President. After 
seeing a record $3.3 billion in profits last year, I want to hear why 
Norfolk Southern chose to prioritize billions in stock buybacks instead 
of investing in safety equipment or their workers.
  I also expect Mr. Shaw to lay out precisely what steps Norfolk 
Southern is taking to prevent future disasters like East Palestine. How 
does Norfolk Southern plan to address rail safety inspections in the 
future? Will Norfolk Southern commit to having its conductors and other 
rail employees undergo additional safety and response training? And if, 
God forbid, another accident happens, how will Norfolk Southern ensure 
communities get the resources they need to respond to accidents?
  These are questions that Mr. Shaw must answer tomorrow: how the 
railroad will address rail safety inspections in the future, whether 
they will commit to having their conductors and rail employees undergo 
additional safety and response training, and how they will help 
communities if, God forbid, another accident occurs.