Political Quotes

“I urge the Senate to ensure Metro-North and other railroads improve safety by voting in support of the bill before the Senate. Working with Senator Cantwell, who has been a strong advocate for crude-by-rail safety, we have also included in the bill new requirements for real-time train information to aid emergency response officials in the event of an accident. Senator Baldwin worked last week to ensure emergency officials have advance notice of crude oil and ethanol unit trains traveling through their jurisdictions. This bill also includes a provision for comprehensive oilspill response plans to ensure railroads are prepared and have resources positioned to respond to worst case scenarios, another priority from our colleague from Washington State, Senator Cantwell. Further, aiding emergency response efforts, Senators Booker and Menendez included provisions that prohibit the withholding of train information from first responders. Their work will also examine the sufficiency of response information carried by train crews addressing issues raised in relation to the 2012 derailment in Paulsburo, NJ. Senator Manchin worked to ensure tank car owners and shippers annually report on their compliance with the new tank requirements requiring stronger oversight for those important safety upgrades. In addition, Senator Manchin and I have agreed on the need for a real- world derailment test of electronically controlled pneumatic, or ECP, brakes.…”