[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 10, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1599-S1600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JOLENE MOLITORIS

 Mr. BROWN. Madam President, it is a privilege to extend my 
congratulations to Jolene Molitoris as APTA honors Jolene for her 
extraordinary career and achievements for the public with APTA's 
Lifetime Achievement Award.
  My partnership with Jolene goes back decades, to our early work 
together in State government in Ohio when Jolene served on the staff of 
the Ohio Rail Transportation Authority. I introduced Jolene at her 
Senate confirmation hearing in 1993 for Federal Railroad Administrator, 
the first woman ever to head that Agency. Jolene went on to become the 
longest serving FRA Administrator. Jolene blazed more firsts when in 
2009 Ohio Governor Ted Strickland appointed her as the first woman to 
lead the Ohio Department of Transportation, and in that role, she also 
chaired the Ohio Rail Development Commission.
  Recognized by WTS as Woman of the Year in 1995, Jolene has helped 
boost the women transportation stars who shine today, in addition to 
her own achievements. While at FRA, she served on the Amtrak board of 
directors when Amtrak launched the Acela in the Northeast Corridor, 
promoted rail revitalization with innovative new investment programs, 
and expanded the number of contracts her agency awarded to women-owned 
businesses to new Federal highs. At ODOT, Jolene oversaw ODOT's largest 
construction budget ever to that time and secured $400 million to bring 
robust rail service back to Ohio.
  Jolene's absolute passion for safety has meant the most. As recent 
tragic events in Ohio have again unfortunately demonstrated, safety 
demands unwavering commitment. At FRA and ODOT, Jolene urged Vision 
Zero, that we must passionately pursue zero incidents and zero 
casualties. She focused her agencies on safety root cause, expanding 
focus beyond mere blind compliance by the regulated community. During 
her FRA tenure, the railroad industry achieved 7 of the safest years to 
that time.
  Nearly 30 ago in 1996, Jolene brought together rail labor, rail 
management, and other stakeholders to form the FRA Railroad Safety 
Advisory Committee to develop new regulatory standards through a 
consensus process.

[[Page S1600]]

RSAC continues to operate to this day as one of the few standing 
negotiated rule-making committees in the Federal Government, offering 
an elevated voice for rail labor and other advocates in our unceasing 
pursuit of safety.
  Jolene's promotion of Transportation safety excellence, rail 
passenger, and freight investment, of equity and inclusion--her vivid 
passion to do the right things for the people of Ohio and for our 
Nation--drive this APTA honor. I am proud to count Jolene as my partner 
and my friend, and I salute APTA for presenting this Lifetime 
Achievement Award to a most distinguished leader: Jolene 
Molitoris.

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