US Sen. Sherrod Brown Introduces Railway Safety Act

LOWELLVILLE, Ohio – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is calling for swift passage of his bipartisan Railway Safety Act.

The act would require two-person crews on trains, increase training, make rail carriers pay for wrongdoing, enhance safety procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials and support communities impacted by rail disasters.

“When the CEO is making 10 or 11 million [dollars] and the company has done 3 billion in stock buyback, a $3,000 fine is like brushing dust off your arm,” Brown said. “We’re going to up those fines up to $250,000, and that’s going to make them behave better. If there’s a stiff fine, the company will feel they’re not going to have dozens and dozens of safety violations.”

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