Doris Matsui: “I strongly support the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act (H.R. 1401). Our country needs this bill. Our…”

“I strongly support the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act (H.R. 1401). Our country needs this bill. Our communities need this bill. This legislation is very timely for my district. On March 15th, a train trestle burned down just outside central Sacramento. The fire sent a dark plume of smoke into the sky. The residents of our region received quite a scare. Children were kept inside because authorities could not determine if the smoke from the trestle fire was toxic. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The incident is not being investigated as a terrorist attack. However, this fire showcased the impact that our rail vulnerabilities can have on communities. In Sacramento, our train tracks form a ring around our most populated areas. If the trestle had caught fire just a few miles down the track, houses would have burned. If the train had exploded, or if it had leaked hazardous material, my constituents could have died. I cannot let that happen. That is why this legislation is so important. It makes critical advancements in rail security policy. I am grateful that Representative Markey has addressed the transport of hazardous materials through heavily populated areas. As the situation in Sacramento demonstrated, we must begin to reroute hazardous shipments to avoid populated areas. When possible, we must integrate new technologies to secure these shipments. I look forward to working with Mr. Markey to implement this proposal.”