Transportation Secretary says Congress could help improve rail safety regulations

Transportation Secretary says Congress could help improve rail safety regulations

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says the administration wants stronger regulations on freight trains following the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, but “our hand would be a lot stronger if Congress would strengthen it.”

During the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Washington Watch today, he said Congressional action is needed.  

“I’ll give you an example. Right now, even if we find an egregious hazardous material-related violation by a railroad resulting in a fatality, the most we can assess by way of a penalty is in the neighborhood of $250,000.

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