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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Illinois is the crossroads of the American freight
3rail system, with 40 freight railroads operating on 7,000 miles
4of track and employing more than 13,000 people; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Nothing is more important to the nation's freight
6railroads than safety; the railroad industry's commitment to
7safety is reflected in safety statistics from the Federal
8Railroad Administration; from 1980 to 2013, the train accident
9rate fell by 79%, while the employee injury rate fell by 84%
10and the grade crossing collision rate fell by 81%; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Safety efforts of the railroad industry extend far
12beyond the industry's 180,000 employees and 140,000 mile rail
13network, reaching into the communities they serve; and
 
14    WHEREAS, As common carriers, railroads are required by law
15to transport hazardous materials, including crude oil; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Railroads work closely with state and local
17leaders and emergency responders across their network to ensure
18that communities understand how railroads operate and are
19prepared in the event of an accident; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Each year, thousands of emergency responders and

 

 

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1railroad and shipper employees receive specialized training
2through individual railroad efforts and industry programs;
3railroads actively participate in state emergency planning
4committees and state agency conferences on emergency response;
5railroads also invest in equipment - including foam trailers -
6that are used to train emergency response personnel and respond
7to accidents involving hazardous materials; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Railroads provide interstate commerce services
9that are vital to the economic well-being of the State of
10Illinois and the nation; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Railroads recognize there are inherent risks to
12conducting their business and remain vigilant in their efforts
13to meet or exceed federal standards; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Railroads continue to devote enormous resources -
15approximately 18% of their gross revenues - into their
16infrastructure in an effort to maintain their physical property
17in a safe condition; in 2015, the railroads will devote $29
18billion to infrastructure improvements; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Railroads continuously evaluate new and emerging
20technologies in an unwavering effort to continue to improve
21upon their safety record; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
3urge the railroad industry to continue its efforts to educate
4and inform public officials on its handling of hazardous
5materials, both in normal operating circumstances and in times
6of unanticipated incidents, and to maintain its great
7commitment to conducting its operations in as safe and
8effective of a manner as possible in its ongoing efforts to
9meet the needs of its customers as consistently and efficiently
10as practicable.