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Rail safety reform is not a matter of partisan politics -- or it shouldn't be, anyway.
But since February 2023, when a derailment in East Palestine ignited renewed calls for reform, politicians in Washington, D.C., have sat on their hands while their friends in the railroad industry made promises and assurances that weren't worth the paper their public relations teams hoped it would be printed on.
This week, U.S. Sens. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., are giving it another shot, with a bill that would increase pay for federal railroad inspectors and specialists.
It's a starting point, at least.
The idea is that if we're doing better for those charged with enforcing laws affecting 160,000 miles of track in this country, perhaps more people will actually WANT to do the job.
According to Justice's office, the federal pay structure puts rail inspectors at a full pay level below comparable federal accident-investigation positions. (That means recruitment and retention hasn't been easy).
"Rail safety inspectors are the front line of defense for our nation's transit network," Justice said. "Every day, they inspect critical infrastructure, investigate dangerous incidents, and enforce safety standards across the entire industry. This common-sense bill gives the Federal Railroad Administration the resources necessary to recruit and retain world-class talent to keep our railways secure. Offering competitive pay is a direct investment in the safety of our communities, and I'm proud to lead this bill alongside Sen. Peters."
Justice and Peters might have an easier time getting their bill passed if they DON'T remind lawmakers that it is simple common sense.
But here's hoping not only that they can get this one passed, but that it will inspire more real rail safety reform efforts before it is too late.