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.

Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 23 through September 29, 2024, as Rail Safety Week 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 11758 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 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 Boards 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.

Summary: This resolution expresses support for the designation of Rail Safety Week. The resolution also expresses support for (1) the efforts by the Department of Transportation to implement the recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Boards investigation into the February 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio; (2) the communities impacted by the derailment in Ohio; and (3) the actions of first responders who combat releases of hazardous materials across the United States, including the firefighters who responded to the derailment in Ohio.