[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 153 (Thursday, September 21, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4659-S4660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 356--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF THE 
   WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 18 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24, 2023, AS ``RAIL SAFETY 
WEEK'' IN THE UNITED STATES AND SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF RAIL 
   SAFETY WEEK TO REDUCE HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSING AND TRESPASSER-
   RELATED INCIDENTS, FATALITIES, AND INJURIES, REDUCE DERAILMENTS, 
  IMPROVE THE SAFE TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BY RAIL, AND 
                     PREVENT RAIL WORKER FATALITIES

  Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. Vance, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, and Mr. 
Fetterman) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 356

       Whereas the first Rail Safety Week was held from September 
     24 through September 30, 2017, by the national education 
     safety nonprofit organization 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;

[[Page S4660]]

       Whereas highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing 
     incidents constituted approximately 94 percent of all rail-
     related fatalities during 2022;
       Whereas, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 
     (Public Law 117-58; 135 Stat. 429), Congress provided 
     $3,000,000,000 during a 5-year period for the Railroad 
     Crossing Elimination grant program to help local communities 
     construct highway-rail grade separation projects to eliminate 
     crossings;
       Whereas, in 2022, 50 percent of all highway-rail grade 
     crossing collisions and 64 percent of all fatal highway-rail 
     grade crossing collisions occurred at gated highway-rail 
     grade crossings;
       Whereas preliminary Federal statistics indicate that 2,197 
     highway-grade crossing collisions occurred in the United 
     States in 2022, resulting in 274 deaths and another 812 
     individuals being injured;
       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 nonprofit 
     organization with respect to rail safety, administers a 
     public education program about grade-crossing safety and 
     trespassing prevention;
       Whereas, during Rail Safety Week, from September 18 through 
     24, 2023, and throughout the year, everyone is encouraged to 
     take added caution as motorists or pedestrians approach 
     tracks or trains;
       Whereas the February 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern train 
     derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which resulted in the 
     burning of 6 vinyl chloride tank cars and forced the 
     evacuation of approximately 2,000 nearby residents, was a 
     reminder of the risks posed by hazardous materials 
     transportation;
       Whereas preliminary 2022 Federal statistics indicate that--
       (1) Class I freight railroads had the highest derailment 
     rate in the past decade;
       (2) the number of derailments per 1,000,000 miles traveled 
     among Class I freight railroads has increased by 14 percent 
     since 2012; and
       (3) more than 43,000 rail workers have been injured and 135 
     rail workers have been killed on duty since 2012;
       Whereas the United States, Canada, and Mexico will 
     concurrently observe Rail Safety Week; and
       Whereas this important observance should lead to greater 
     safety awareness and a reduction in highway-rail grade 
     crossing collisions, derailments, rail worker fatalities, and 
     other railroad incidents: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of ``Rail Safety Week'';
       (2) expresses strong support for--
       (A) the goals and ideals of Rail Safety Week;
       (B) efforts to reduce highway-rail grade crossing and 
     trespasser-related incidents, fatalities, and injuries;
       (C) efforts by the Federal Railroad Administration to 
     improve safety cultures at Class I freight railroads;
       (D) efforts by the National Transportation Safety Board to 
     investigate the February 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern derailment 
     in East Palestine, Ohio, and the safety culture at Norfolk 
     Southern;
       (E) the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, Western 
     Pennsylvania, and all other communities impacted by the 
     derailment and release of hazardous materials on February 3, 
     2023;
       (F) the brave actions of first responders who combat 
     releases of hazardous materials across the United States, 
     including the brave actions of the more than 300 firefighters 
     from 50 fire departments who responded to the February 3, 
     2023, derailment in East Palestine, Ohio; and
       (G) rail workers who have died or been injured while 
     working to keep people and goods moving throughout the United 
     States and the families of those rail workers; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States--
       (A) to participate in Rail Safety Week events and 
     activities;
       (B) to educate themselves and others on how to be safe 
     around railroad tracks; and
       (C) to support efforts to improve the safe transportation 
     of hazardous material by rail.

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