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“FEDERAL RAILROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2007” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2206 on Oct. 23, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
FEDERAL RAILROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2007
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speech of
HON. SILVESTRE REYES
of texas
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2095) to amend title 49, United States Code, to prevent railroad fatalities, injuries, and hazardous materials releases, to authorize the Federal Railroad Safety Administration, and for other purposes:
Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2095 the Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007. This bill, introduced by my colleague Chairman James L. Oberstar, provides a long-
overdue reauthorization and reorganization of the Federal Railroad Administration. I am proud to count myself as a cosponsor of this legislation.
My district of El Paso has a rich history with the railroad industry. Following the arrival of the railroads in 1881, El Paso experienced enormous economic growth due in part to the railroad connections in the area. Today, my city's connections to the industry persist, and hundreds of my constituents go to work in the rail yards and along the tracks every day. Rail workers and the Americans who live near rail operations deserve the highest level of safety, and the Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act provides just that.
Roughly 40 percent of all train accidents are the result of human factors, and, of this startling number, one in four results from fatigue. This bill will set new hours-of-service for our railroad workers and will help ensure they follow proper rest and shift periods. Under the proposed measures, personnel would receive at least 10 hours of rest per 24-hour period and would ultimately be limited to no more than 12 consecutive hours of shift work. The bill would also nearly double the number of rail safety inspection and enforcement staff. These changes would hopefully reduce the number of accidents caused by human error and fatigue and would help ensure safer working conditions for the approximately 1,100 rail workers of El Paso and across the United States.
In addition, H.R. 2095 would reorganize the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and rename it the Federal Railroad Safety Administration (FRSA). Over the 4-year period from 2007 to 2011, the FRSA would authorize $1.1 billion for general expenses and grant programs. This legislation has taken into account many of the safety investigations and recommendations of the Department of Transportation, especially regarding human fatigue, defective tracks, and railroad crossings. With the reauthorization of this funding, I am confident that great strides will be made to improve the safety of the railroad industry in the United States.
Mr. Chairman, I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this important legislation so that substantial improvements in Federal railroad safety can be made nationwide.
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