J. Exon: “as chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee, I am pleased and honored to introduce the Federal…”

“as chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee, I am pleased and honored to introduce the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1994 by the request of the Clinton administration. My highest priority as a member and chairman of the subcommittee has been safety. This Monday, the Nation arose to news of an unfortunate accident in North Carolina. As safe as rail transportation has become, this incident reminds us all that more needs to be done. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the engineer who lost his life and the passengers and crew who were injured in the accident. The good people of Smithfield, NC, the passengers and crew of the Silver Meteor showed great courage, compassion, and composure in coping with a difficult ordeal. I assure my colleagues and the passengers of the Silver Meteor that this accident will be carefully investigated by the Surface Transportation Subcommittee. If there is a gap in the Federal regulatory structure, especially as it relates to securing cargo, it will be closed. Rail transportation remains by far one of the safest modes of transportation. It is impossible to anticipate every possible circumstance that confronts any mode of transportation. While every accident is different, we can study each one to find ways to reduce risk. In general, the railroads and State and Federal Government have done a good job. The overall trend for rail accidents is down.”