Political Quotes

“My amendment to H.R. 749 requires the Government Accountability Office, the GAO, to conduct a study and submit a report to Congress evaluating the effectiveness of the Federal Railroad Administration's 2005 rule on the use of locomotive horns at rail crossings. We were just talking about rail crossings. After 10 years of being in effect, I believe it is fair we ask the FRA to update and modernize the train horn regulation, allowing flexibility for new technologies and innovations that may become available. The basic premise behind the rule has not changed: to promote public safety by requiring train operators to sound horns at certain decibel levels while passing through railway crossings to alert motorists and pedestrians. While the rule currently allows municipalities to apply for ``quiet zone'' status, I am concerned the current requirements for obtaining a quiet zone waiver are far too rigid, cost prohibitive, and time consuming. Achieving quiet zone status can take years of work and cost millions of dollars. By requiring the GAO to study the train horn rule, I am confident the FRA can craft an updated rule striking a balance between public safety and providing communities flexibility to establish quiet zones.…”