Full Text of SJR0050 98th General Assembly
SJ0050 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is the freight rail hub of | 3 | | the nation; its rail network represents a significant portion | 4 | | of the State's transportation infrastructure and is vital to | 5 | | spurring the economy throughout the State; and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, Illinois has over 18,000 freight rail employees | 7 | | working in a freight rail system consisting of Class I, | 8 | | regional, shortline, and switching railroads with more than | 9 | | 7,000 miles of trackage; and
| 10 | | WHEREAS, Illinois is the only state in the nation where all | 11 | | Class I railroads operate; and
| 12 | | WHEREAS, Freight trains, which can be miles long and carry | 13 | | millions of pounds of freight, including hazardous materials, | 14 | | require adequate crew members for safe and secure operations; | 15 | | and
| 16 | | WHEREAS, On July 6, 2013, a runaway freight train | 17 | | tragically derailed and exploded, killing 47 people in the | 18 | | Canadian province of Quebec, partially due to the fact that the | 19 | | single-crew member for that train was unable to properly secure | 20 | | the cars to prevent the runaway; and |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Rail system safety has a heightened priority after | 2 | | recent events and is a priority for both rail carriers and | 3 | | government agencies due to the potential impact of freight | 4 | | train-related accidents on the general public and the | 5 | | efficiency of rail operations; and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, H.R. 3040, the Safe Freight Act, is pending in | 7 | | Congress and would simply require a freight train crew to | 8 | | consist of at least 2 individuals; and
| 9 | | WHEREAS, Staffing a freight train with a certified | 10 | | conductor and a certified engineer would continue to provide | 11 | | safe grade crossings, sustain efficient operations, and | 12 | | provide proper and adequate securement capabilities; | 13 | | therefore, be it
| 14 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL | 15 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | 16 | | CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge Congress to enact the Safe | 17 | | Freight Act in order to ensure that no freight train be | 18 | | operated unless it is staffed by at least 2 properly certified | 19 | | individuals; and be it further
| 20 | | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | 21 | | delivered to the Illinois congressional delegation.
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