rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/rail-safety-bipartisan-action?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-rail-safety-bipartisan-action' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Build The Era https://actionnetwork.org/groups/build-the-era https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/letters/photos/000/260/044/normal/open-uri20230306-15024-w4dlh4 Tell Congress to support and pass the Bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023! Congress has heard the calls for action on rail safety from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and from organizations like ours. As a result, six US Senators have co-sponsored a bipartisan, rail safety bill titled the Railway Safety Act of 2023.   The Railway Safety Act addresses the ask of Secretary Pete for Congress to increase the allowable penalties USDOT can impose on rail companies for violations. It raises those penalties to the greater of 0.5% to 1% of operating income or $750,000 to $1.75 million depending on the type of violation. This is a much greater deterrent than the current maximum penalties, which are less than $250,000. The bill also includes new safety requirements and procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials, requires at least two person, well-trained crews aboard every train, reduces the risk of wheel bearing failure with new requirements for detectors,  strengthens inspection requirements of rail cars carrying hazardous materials, and provides more grant funding for HAZMAT crews and first responders, and funding for USDOT for rail safety research and development. Due to a divided House and Senate, any bill to pass through Congress this session must do so in a bipartisan manner. The Railway Safety Act of 2023 is an important bill that could actually become law because it has the support of members of both parties and President Biden. However, it has yet to gain broad support, so we must act to let our members of Congress know of our strong support. Build the Era has created a letter for us that will be sent to our members of Congress telling them to support and pass the Railway Safety Act of 2023. We even have a chance to personalize it with our thoughts about the importance of rail safety before it is sent. Together, we can take advantage of the creation of this bill to make our railroads, railroad workers and railway communities safer. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/rail-safety-bipartisan-action