A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of September 22 through September 28, 2019, as Rail Safety Week in the United States, and supporting the goals and ideals of Rail Safety Week to reduce rail-related accidents, fatalities, and injuries.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 322 Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 22 through September 28, 2019, as Rail Safety Week in the United States, and supporting the goals and ideals of Rail Safety Week to reduce rail- related accidents, fatalities, and injuries. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 Mr. WICKER (for himself, Ms. CANTWELL, Mrs. FISCHER, and Ms. DUCKWORTH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation OCTOBER 15, 2019 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of the week of Sep- tember 22 through September 28, 2019, as Rail Safety Week in the United States, and supporting the goals and ideals of Rail Safety Week to reduce rail-related accidents, fatalities, and injuries. Whereas the first Rail Safety Week was held from September 24 through September 30, 2017, by the national edu- cation safety nonprofit Operation Lifesaver, the Depart- ment of Transportation, and other organizations; Whereas Rail Safety Week was launched to raise awareness about the need for increased education on how to be safe VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:24 Oct 15, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR322.ATS SR322 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 SRES 322 ATS around highway-rail grade crossings and railroad tracks, and to highlight efforts to further reduce collisions, inju- ries, and fatalities; Whereas highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing acci- dents constituted approximately 96 percent of all rail re- lated fatalities during 2018; Whereas since 2005, the number of public crossings has de- clined by 8 percent, while the number of gates at such crossings has increased by 26 percent; Whereas, in 2018, 51 percent of all grade crossing collisions and 64 percent of all fatal grade crossing collisions oc- curred at gated crossings; Whereas, in 2018, there were a total of 841 rail-related fa- talities and 8,177 rail-related injuries in the United States; Whereas preliminary Federal statistics show that 2,216 high- way-grade crossing crashes occurred during 2018, result- ing in 263 persons killed and another 840 persons in- jured throughout the United States; Whereas trespassing incidents on railroad property resulted in 571 persons killed and another 479 injured across the Nation in 2018; Whereas many collisions between trains and motor vehicles or pedestrians could have been prevented by increased edu- cation, engineering, and enforcement; Whereas Operation Lifesaver, the foremost public information and education program on rail safety, administers a pub- lic education program about grade-crossing safety and prevention of trespassing; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:24 Oct 15, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR322.ATS SR322 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 SRES 322 ATS Whereas during Rail Safety Week, from September 22 through 28, 2019, and throughout the year, everyone is encouraged to observe added caution as motorists or pe- destrians approach tracks or trains; Whereas, the United States and Canada will observe Rail Safety Week concurrently; and Whereas this important observance should lead to greater safety awareness and a reduction in highway-rail grade crossing crashes and pedestrian and railroad incidents: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) supports the designation of Rail Safety 2 Week; 3 (2) expresses strong support for— 4 (A) the goals and ideals of Rail Safety 5 Week; and 6 (B) efforts to reduce rail-related accidents, 7 fatalities, and injuries; and 8 (3) encourages the people of the United 9 States— 10 (A) to participate in Rail Safety Week 11 events and activities; and 12 (B) to educate themselves and others on 13 how to be safe around railroad tracks. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:24 Oct 15, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR322.ATS SR322 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS