Rep. Kind Introduces Rail Safety Act to Protect Wisconsin Communities

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03) introduced legislation to increase rail safety and better protect our communities from the negative consequences of train derailments. This legislation builds on lessons learned from the derailment in Alma and Galena IL., by providing foam trailers and other emergency response equipment in strategic places along heavily trafficked rail lines.

“As I travel to communities around western and central Wisconsin a concern I continually hear is the negative impact increased rail traffic is having, and the danger derailments pose to communities,” said Rep. Kind. “Today, I introduced legislation to place emergency response equipment, at no cost to taxpayers, in strategic places along heavily traveled rail lines, like the one along the Mississippi River. By making life saving equipment more accessible we provide our communities with the certainty that their homes and businesses will be safe if a derailment happens.”

“The recent derailments in Alma and Brownsville show how we are vulnerable to catastrophic accidents, most in hard-to-reach locales. Preventative measures to avoid the many tragic risks of derailments must continue to be our primary focus, but we also need wise legislation such as this to be safe. It’s not fair to taxpayers to shoulder the financial costs for the increased dangers put on the line to communities,” said Citizens Acting for Rail Safety-La Crosse.

The Rail Safety Act directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate with the Department of Transportation to provide emergency response equipment in strategic places along rail routes over which a high volume of high-hazard trains operate, which should lower the response time of firefighters. This legislation authorizes FEMA to use fees collected from railroad carriers to purchase the equipment.