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| 1 | SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
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| 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
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| 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
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| 10 | WHEREAS, Illinois is the only state in the nation where all | ||||||
| 11 | Class I railroads operate; and
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 20 | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | ||||||
| 21 | delivered to the Illinois congressional delegation.
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