U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown, J.D. Vance, Bob Casey and John Fetterman introduced a resolution designating Sept. 18 - 22 as Rail Safety Week.

According to a news release from Brown's office, the resolution outlines the urgent need to prevent derailments and worker fatalities, reduce highway-rail grade crossing incidents and strengthen rail safety and safe transportation of hazardous materials.

“The February 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which resulted in the burning of 6 vinyl chloride tank cars and forced the evacuation of approximately 2,000 nearby residents, was a reminder of the risks posed by hazardous materials transportation,” the senators said in the resolution. “Class I freight railroads had the highest derailment rate in the past decade … more than 43,000 rail workers have been injured.”

The resolution notes that in the last decade, Class I freight railroads had the highest derailment rate, a 14 percent increase, and more than 43,000 rail workers have been injured and 135 rail workers have been killed on duty, according to preliminary 2022 Federal statistics.

In March, Brown, along with Vance, Casey and Fetterman, introduced the Railway Safety Act to prevent future train derailments by improving rail safety protocols and holding rail companies accountable for these disasters by increasing fines.

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