Press Releases

SANTA FE, NM – April 26, 2024 – Congresswoman Leger Fernández (NM-03) released the following statement after the derailment of a freight train about 13 miles west of Gallup and south of Interstate 40 today.

“Every day in the U.S., an average of three trains derail with as many as half potentially carrying hazardous substances. New Mexico is part of that sad statistic,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández.

“We are closely monitoring the situation following today’s derailment alongside Secretary Buttigieg, the Federal Railroad Administration, President Nygren, and first responders. Our Tribal, State and Federal officials are responding to the derailment quickly so we can keep the people of the Navajo Nation and the travelers on our highways safe.”

“I am calling on Congress to act and pass legislation like the Railway Safety Act that has been pending since the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio and the Rail Worker and Community Safety Act led by Congresswoman Stansbury. We cannot let the rail industry stand in the way of our transportation safety,” she concluded.

If passed, the Railway Safety Act would take a number of key steps to improve rail safety protocols, such as enhancing safety procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials, establishing requirements for wayside defect detectors, creating a permanent requirement for railroads to operate with at least two-person crews, increasing fines for wrongdoing committed by rail carriers, and more.

Similarly, Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury’s Rail Worker And Community Safety Act would make much-needed improvements to federal rail safety regulations, including mandates for a two-person crew, changing ways hazardous materials can be transported, increasing funding for rail safety inspectors, and codifying mandatory sick leave for all rail workers.

Since President Biden took office, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken key steps to improve the safety of railways by deploying funding from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, holding railroads accountable, raising rail safety standards, and supporting first responders and rail workers. Nevertheless, Congress must act to strengthen the Department of Transportation’s oversight and regulatory authority.