Springfield Standard

WASHINGTON—Congressman Eric Burlison (R-MO-07) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to nullify the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Train Crew Size Safety Requirements Final Rule. This rule mandates that all freight rails must have a two-person crew at all times. A 2015 study found there is no safety difference "whether there is one qualified person or two qualified persons manning a train," making this rule unnecessary. Furthermore, the only entity this benefits is unions, not consumers or owners of these small businesses.

“This resolution is a vital step towards ensuring policymaking in the rail industry is based on facts, not influential unions. The final rule is misguided and imposes unnecessary burdens on small businesses while simultaneously failing to enhance safety, its supposed intention.

The imposition of a two-person crew requirement disproportionately harms small businesses, jeopardizing their viability in a highly competitive industry. We should reject this burdensome regulation and instead prioritize allowing the rail industry, which understands its operations best, to thrive without government intervention,” said Rep. Burlison.

Co-sponsors for this legislation include: Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) and Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX).

Supporting groups include the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA).

Ian Jefferies, AAR President and CEO, stated: “Instead of charting a data-driven path to make rail even safer in the future, FRA has shown its misplaced priorities with this unfounded and flawed regulation. Railroads are committed to working with our union counterparts and policymakers on solutions that meaningfully advance safety. Unfortunately, this backwards-looking policy does nothing to make rail safer but it does succeed in upending the collective bargaining process.”

Chuck Baker, ASLRRA President, commented: “We appreciate that the FRA took some feedback from small business short line railroads into account and made the final rule significantly less onerous on small businesses than its original proposal. But as they say, ‘there’s no right way to do the wrong thing.’ While lacking any safety data, FRA is imposing new obligations on short line railroads, requiring them to devote finite resources toward solving a non-existent problem. While time will tell the full scale of this new burden and it will differ railroad by railroad, one thing is clear: Some short line railroads now will have to divert limited capital away from projects that truly advance safety and service towards complying with unwarranted regulations.”