title
AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION
LEG-R-0035-23 AMENDING THE COUNTY'S 2023
FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
resolution
WHEREAS, the DuPage County Board annually adopts a federal legislative agenda that includes legislative priorities that are submitted to the county’s federal lawmakers for action; and
WHEREAS, the DuPage County Board adopted its federal legislative agenda on February 28, 2023; and
WHEREAS, from time-to-time the Legislative Committee determines there is a need to amend legislative priorities to the federal agenda throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, DuPage County, as a non-home rule unit of government, lacks the authority to enact regulations surrounding our national rail freight network; and
WHEREAS, over the past year multiple train derailments of hazardous waste materials have brought attention to the national rail network as it has had drastic impacts on many local communities public health and safety; and
WHEREAS, the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern will create more train traffic throughout DuPage County on a daily basis; and
WHEREAS, the safety of DuPage County residents is the number one concern of the DuPage County Board; and
WHEREAS, the County’s Legislative Committee recommended an amendment to the county’s federal legislative program to include support of language related to improving freight rail safety; and
WHEREAS, the language necessary should include a framework allocating more funding for grants to study the national rail network, requiring carriers to address delays that result in blocked crossings impacting county operations, upgrading the strength and requirements of tanker cars transporting hazardous materials, and additional funding for grants to clean up any hazardous waste spills that may occur from a trail derailment; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress has three pieces of proposed bipartisan legislation currently pending: S. 576, the Railway Safety Act, H.R. 1674, the DERAIL Act, and H.R. 1633, the RAIL Act; and
WHEREAS, the DuPage County Board requests that the United States Congress pass these three pieces of legislation mandating new freight rail safety standards.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, per the recommendation of the Legislative Committee, that the DuPage County Board hereby amends its 2023 federal agenda to include the aforementioned priority; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that staff and the County’s lobbyists are directed to work together with the County’s legislative delegation in collaboration with the National Association of Counties (NACo) to advance the amended 2023 Federal Legislative Program in Washington D.C.
end
Enacted and approved the 9th day of May, 2023 at Wheaton, Illinois.
________________________________
DEBORAH A. CONROY, CHAIR
DU PAGE COUNTY BOARD
Attest: ___________________________________
JEAN KACZMAREK, COUNTY CLERK