On the recordJune 20, 2014
As U.S. oil production continues to grow, the increased burden of moving these resources is falling upon our Nation's railways. In 2013, American railroads shipped more than 400,000 carloads of crude oil by rail, compared to under 10,000 just 6 years ago. Increasing the amount of oil being transported has left communities like those I represent in danger of potential accidents. Increased domestic energy production remains a critical part of a strategy to decrease energy costs and reduce our dependency on foreign oil. We must not, however, wait for another accident to take preventative measures. We need the infrastructure and protections to safely transport these resources across our country. Recent steps to ensure the safety of crude oil transportation through our communities are an improvement, but more can be done. Building the Keystone pipeline will help to safely move resources. Our Nation is blessed with vast energy potential. We can safely and responsibly take advantage of these resources, and I look forward to working with all involved to making transportation safer for communities in our district and across our Nation. ____________________
