[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 53 (Thursday, March 23, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E247-E248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NOW IS THE TIME TO UPDATE RAIL SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2023

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, in the past five months, we have seen three 
major Norfolk Southern train derailments in Ohio, including one that 
occurred in my district, and another which traveled right through the 
heart of my district in northwest Ohio before it burst into flames in 
East Palestine.
  It's been more than a month since that Norfolk Southern train 
disaster in East Palestine, Ohio. Twenty of the 38 railcars that 
derailed were carrying dangerous chemicals; now hundreds of Ohio and 
Pennsylvania families are rightfully frightened that their water is 
contaminated. Since then, another train derailed 28 railcars in 
Springfield, Ohio. Thankfully no hazardous contaminants spilled.

[[Page E248]]

  These accidents follow a dangerous 21-car Norfolk Southern derailment 
last October in Sandusky--in my district. There, paraffin wax spilled 
onto the street and washed into and clogged the town's sewer system. 
For nearly five months the vital main artery into Sandusky remained 
impassable, and Norfolk Southern has not cleaned it up.
  In northern Ohio, rail is the spine of our economy. To compete in a 
global economy and avoid expensive supply chain delays, industrial and 
agricultural America should think big about modern rail. Improving rail 
safety, giving people more transportation options, and expanding access 
to national and global markets are critical to our nation's future.
  But that sort of thinking is not happening. Indeed, we're not even 
getting rail safety right, and that should be the floor, not the 
ceiling. Norfolk Southern repairs lag at many main arteries, including 
the one between Toledo and Sandusky.
  There's no reason for this other than pure greed. Over the past four 
years, Norfolk Southern has reaped more than $31 billion in profits. 
You would think it would invest even a relatively small part of that 
enormous profit to protect its workers, its host communities, and the 
general public so that such disasters would not happen. But you'd be 
wrong.
  The derailments in Sandusky and in East Palestine were not isolated 
events. In 2022, the Federal Railroad Administration reported more than 
1,000 instances of trains derailing. Since last October's Sandusky 
crash, I've tried to reach Norfolk Southern's CEO. I want to discuss 
the bipartisan infrastructure law that Congress passed last summer. My 
colleagues and I want to hear his ideas for rail improvements across 
America's northern corridor from Pittsburgh through East Palestine, 
Sandusky, Toledo, and west to Illinois.
  Members of Congress, both Democrat and Republican, representing this 
congested corridor are eager to address aging rail infrastructure, 
increased traffic, and easement separation of freight and passenger 
service. Yet Norfolk Southern 's leadership won't even return our 
calls.
  The stakes are too high for more delay. America's northern rail 
corridor is a critical access point for goods from Canada, our largest 
trading partner; it's equally critical for getting goods to and from 
our ports, which enable America to ship goods all over the world--and 
helped rejuvenate our auto and steel industry.
  With the bipartisan infrastructure law funds, it's time to bring 
together rail workers, railroad executives, regional transit 
authorities, and state and federal agencies to discuss how to use this 
money. How do we ensure higher safety levels? What's the right mix of 
passenger and freight rail? Should we use smart cars with electric 
track or focus on traditional heavy rail? Should we elevate our trains 
or run them on the ground? These are just a few questions that need 
answers.
  We need to connect to Detroit and Canada. We need to connect Detroit 
and Toledo to the deep-water ports along the Atlantic that allow for 
year-round container shipments. Providing our landlocked region steady 
access to deep-water ports would be a game-changer for America's 
industrial corridor. Addressing the very real health and safety issues 
for the impacted workers, residents, and communities in and around 
Sandusky and East Palestine is the immediate priority.
  We must also look to the future and come together to protect workers 
and deliver transformative and safe commercial and passenger rail 
solutions. The tools are at our disposal. The money is there. And the 
time is now. Let's do what we in the industrial Midwest do best: let's 
get to work.

                          ____________________