Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

First of all. let me just thank Chairman OBERSTAR for his leadership on Transportation. Truly. Mr. OBERSTAR is a transportation guru. And his motto. "Transportation is the committee that put America to work." I want to thank you for "lets put America to work safely." I also want to thank Mr. MICA and Mr. SHUSTER for their hard work on this legislation. Developing this rail safety legislation was the number one priority for the Railroad Subcommittee. Congress last passed legislation to reauthorize thl Federal Railroad Administration in 1994. That authorization expired in 1998. Since that time. the railroad industry has changed greatly. Economic growth and increase in international trade has led to record traffic levels. At the same time. Amtrak and the commuter railroads. which often operate freight rail lines. are moving more passengers. which means that theres lots of pressure on the rail system. and this has a major impact on work and public safety. Since the beginning of the 110th Congress. the subcommittee has held six hearings on rail safety. examined fatigue. the role of human factors in rail accidents. and the reauthorization of the Federal Rail Safety program. We also held two hearings in Texas and California. In addition to the subcommittees hearings. we met with labor. the railroads. government agencies. and other interested parties in crafting this legislation. Through some tough negotiations. we were able to develop a bipartisan agreement on the most difficult issues. and I believe we have areally good bill. Let me highlight a number of provisions in the bill. H.R. 2095 reauthorized the FRA as the Federal Railroad Safety Administration and ensures that it will consider and assign maintenance and safety as their highest priority. The bill seeks to help prevent accidents caused by human factors. which accounts for about 40 percent of all rail accidents. by strengthening the hours of service law. increasing worker training and qualifications. and implementing advanced safety technologies. This bill improves safety at our Nations grade crossings. It requires railroads to establish. maintain. and post a tollfree number at all grade crossings to receive calls regarding malfunctions of signals. crossing gates. or disabled vehicles blocking crossings. H.R. 2095 directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations regarding. railroads to remove all overgrown vegetation from their rightofway to improve the view of pedestrians and motor vehicle operators. H.R. 2095 also requires railroads to d)velop and submit to the Secretary a plan for implementing a positive train control system by December 31. 2014. Further. it requires the Secretary of Transportation to develop a longterm strategy for improving railroad safety. which must include a plan and schedule for reducing the number and rates of accidents. injuries and fatalities involving railroads. Simply put. this legislation is going to save lives. I look forward to going to conference and putting a bill on the Presidents desk for his signature. I want to again thank Chairman OBERSTAR for his leadership on the committee. And I would encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation.