Reps. Ron Kind, Tim Walz and Colleagues Across Nation Introduce Bill to Help Local First Responders Handle Train Derailments

Press Release

U.S. Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Tim Walz (D-MN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Dan Lipinski (D-IL), and Cedric Richmond (D-LA) introduced the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Act today, to help first responders in local communities in the event of a train derailment or fuel spill. A companion bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND).

"As more and more oil is being shipped across Wisconsin, the risk of derailments and spills in our local communities continues to grow," said Rep. Kind. "We rely on our local first responders to do so much to protect our communities, and this bill will give them needed tools and resources so they can react quickly and effectively in case of a rail emergency. This is an important step forward, but more work needs to be done on issues including better track inspections, upgraded train tracks, and more transparency so the public knows what's being transported on our rails."

The RESPONSE Act creates a subcommittee under FEMA's National Advisory Council to bring together agencies, emergency responders, technical experts, and the private sector to review training, best practices, resources and unmet needs related to railroad incidents. With the upcoming expansion of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (BNSF) Railway through Wisconsin, crude oil transportation has become an increasingly serious safety concern in many communities that trains pass through.

The subcommittee would provide recommendations to Congress within one year on emergency responder training and resource allocation, addressing quality of training, funding levels, emergency response plans, and improving the flow of information to local first responders. It would also help develop a train incident database.

Many large cities, states and the federal government have the training and resources to respond to a hazmat incident on our railways, but many local communities' police, fire and medical personnel are the first to arrive on the scene to secure the area and keep neighborhoods safe.

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