IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 698 

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 reducing highway-rail grade crossingrelated incidents, fatalities, and injuries. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 

Ms. WILSON of Florida (for herself, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. PAYNE, 

Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mrs. WATSON

COLEMAN, Mr. CARSON, Mrs. FOUSHEE, Ms. NORTON, Mr. CA ́RDENAS, 

Ms. BROWNLEY, Mr. MOULTON, Ms. TITUS, Mr. RYAN, and Mr. CARTER

of Louisiana) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

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 reducing highway-rail grade crossing-related 

incidents, fatalities, and injuries. 

Whereas the first Rail Safety Week was held from September 

24 through September 30, 2017, by the national education safety nonprofit 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 


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•HRES 698 IH 

around highway-rail grade crossings and railroad tracks 

and to highlight efforts to further reduce incidents, injuries, and fatalities; 

Whereas the rail industry strives to safeguard drivers and pedestrians at highway-rail grade crossings through continuous maintenance, public safety campaigns with organizations like Operation Lifesaver, utilizing government 

and community collaboration, and heavy investment in 

technology; 

Whereas highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing incidents constituted approximately 96 percent of all rail-related fatalities during 2022; 

Whereas, since 2000— 

(1) the number of public highway-rail grade crossings has decreased by 18 percent; and 

(2) the number of gates at such crossings has increased by 59 percent; 

Whereas, in 2022, 58 percent of all highway-rail grade crossing incidents and 61 percent of all fatal highway-rail 

grade crossing incidents occurred at gated highway-rail 

grade crossings; 

Whereas preliminary Federal statistics indicate that 2,194 

highway-grade crossing incidents occurred in the United 

States in 2022, resulting in 274 deaths and another 803 

individuals injured; 

Whereas many incidents between trains and motor vehicles or 

pedestrians could have been prevented by increased education, engineering, and enforcement; 

Whereas Operation Lifesaver, the foremost public information 

and education program on rail safety, which administers 

a public education program about grade-crossing safety 


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•HRES 698 IH 

and trespassing prevention, enjoys broad bipartisan support; 

Whereas, during Rail Safety Week, from September 18 

through 24, and throughout the year, everyone is encouraged to take added caution as motorists or pedestrians 

approach tracks or trains; 

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 incidents and other railroad incidents: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘Rail Safety 

3 Week’’; 

4 (2) expresses strong support for— 

5 (A) the goals and ideals of Rail Safety 

6 Week; and 

7 (B) efforts to reduce rail-related incidents, 

8 fatalities, and injuries at highway-rail grade 

9 crossings; and 

10 (3) encourages the people of the United 

11 States— 

12 (A) to participate in Rail Safety Week 

13 events and activities; and 


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1 (B) to educate themselves and others on 

2 how to be safe around railroad tracks and 

3 grade crossings. 

Æ 


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