Walz Holds Meeting on Rail Safety in Waseca

Press Release

Today, Rep. Tim Walz convened a meeting with local community leaders, first responders, and rail officials to discuss freight rail shipping safety. Walz is the only Member of Congress from Minnesota who sits on the Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

"As more and more hazardous materials are being shipped through our communities, we must do all we can to increase rail safety and keep our communities safe," Representative Walz said.

Walz is holding the meeting as part of his continued push to increase rail shipping safety. More and more hazardous materials are being shipped via rail. While the rail line that runs through Waseca does not carry Bakken Crude from North Dakota, train cars carrying other hazardous materials run through the city. Waseca also recently experienced a derailment. Luckily the train that derailed was carrying only grain and not a hazardous material, which could have caused exponentially more damage.

In February, Walz called for and participated in a U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Hearing on rail shipping safety. Prior to this meeting in Waseca, Walz held meetings on rail safety in Winona and St. Paul.

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