At a Commerce Subcommittee hearing, Klobuchar underscored the need to move forward commonsense reforms to help strengthen rail infrastructure and protect communities living near rail routes 

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today pressed for action to advance critical safety measures to improve rail safety in Minnesota and across the country. At a Commerce Subcommittee hearing with federal rail officials, Klobuchar underscored the need to move forward commonsense reforms to help strengthen rail infrastructure and protect communities near rail routes following derailments in North Dakota and Canada.

“Recent high-profile derailments have underscored the importance of boosting safety and taking commonsense steps to protect communities near rail routes,” Klobuchar said. “With more and more freight train traffic on our rail lines, improving our rail infrastructure and ensuring the safety of our tracks can’t just be an afterthought – it must be a priority.”

Witnesses at today’s hearing included: Joseph C. Szabo, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration; Anne S. Ferro, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Cynthia L. Quarterman, Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; and D. Winfree, Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology.

Klobuchar recently sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee calling for increased funding for additional rail inspectors and for a stronger inspection process. In March, she also successfully pushed for a Senate Commerce Committee hearing with federal rail officials and experts where she discussed how recent train derailments highlighted the need to move advance critical safety measures. At the hearing, she called for action on common sense reforms to help strengthen rail infrastructure and protect communities along rail routes.

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