Klobuchar successfully pushed for today’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing, and called for immediate action to move forward commonsense reforms to help strengthen rail infrastructure and protect communities near rail routes after recent derailments in North Dakota and Canada

Klobuchar also discussed the derailment in Two Harbors and highlighted the need to ensure rail safety concerns are addressed 

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today called for action to improve rail safety in Minnesota and across the country. Klobuchar successfully pushed for today’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing and called for immediate action to move forward commonsense reforms to help strengthen rail infrastructure and protect communities near rail routes after recent derailments in North Dakota and Canada. Klobuchar also discussed the derailment in Two Harbors and highlighted the need to ensure rail safety concerns are addressed.

“Recent train derailments have made clear that we need to boost rail safety,” Klobuchar said. “That means taking steps to protect communities along rail routes, investing in a 21st century rail infrastructure, improving community and emergency preparedness, and ensuring that we have robust safety standards on the books. With freight traffic increasing across the country, rail safety needs to be a priority – not an afterthought.”

Witnesses at today’s hearing included: Joseph Szabo, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration; Cynthia Quarterman, Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; Mr. Ed Hamberger, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of American Railroads; Christopher Hart, Vice Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board; Mr. Geoffrey Blackwell, Chief, Office of Native Affairs and Policy, Federal Communications Commission; Mr. Bob Greco, Director Downstream and Industry Operations, American Petroleum Institute. 

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