[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 864 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 864
Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 23
through September 29, 2024, as ``Rail Safety Week'' and supporting the
goals and ideals of Rail Safety Week to reduce highway-rail grade
crossing and trespasser-related incidents, fatalities, injuries, and
derailments, improve the safe transportation of hazardous materials by
rail, and prevent rail worker fatalities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 25, 2024
Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, Mr. Fetterman, and Mr.
Vance) 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 23
through September 29, 2024, as ``Rail Safety Week'' and supporting the
goals and ideals of Rail Safety Week to reduce highway-rail grade
crossing and trespasser-related incidents, fatalities, injuries, and
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 a highway-rail grade crossing safety nonprofit organization
Operation Lifesaver, the Department of Transportation, and other
organizations;
Whereas Rail Safety Week was launched to--
(1) raise awareness about the need for increased education on how to be
safe around highway-rail grade crossings and railroad tracks; and
(2) highlight efforts to further reduce collisions, injuries, and
fatalities;
Whereas highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing incidents constituted
approximately 96 percent of all rail-related fatalities during 2023;
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 that has provided
nearly $600,000,000 to 63 local communities in 32 states to construct
and plan highway-rail grade separation projects to eliminate crossings;
Whereas, in 2022, more than 60 percent of all highway-rail grade crossing
collisions occurred at highway-rail grade crossings with lights or
gates;
Whereas preliminary Federal statistics indicate that 2,192 highway-rail grade
crossing collisions occurred in the United States in 2023, resulting in
247 deaths and another 764 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 administers a public education program about grade-
crossing safety and trespassing prevention;
Whereas, during Rail Safety Week, from September 23 through 29, 2024, 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 5 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 2023 Federal statistics indicate that--
(1) Class I freight railroads had the highest accident rate not at
grade crossings in the past decade;
(2) the number of accidents not at grade crossings per 1,000,000 miles
traveled among Class I freight railroads has increased by 42 percent since
2013; and
(3) more than 42,000 rail workers have been injured and 120 rail
workers have been killed on duty since 2013;
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 Department of Transportation to
implement the recommendations of the National
Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the
February 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern derailment in East
Palestine, Ohio;
(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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