[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 356 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 21, 2023
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
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
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.
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;
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.
<all>