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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 864 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

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.
                                 <all>
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