Danger of Default on America

Floor Speech

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Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today because a couple of months ago, a freight train derailed in my district. Thankfully, the cars that derailed were not carrying any hazardous materials and no one was hurt. Earlier this month, another passenger train derailed nearby as it left the station.

Madam Speaker, 25 percent of the Nation's trains pass through the Chicagoland area, and many of the country's largest freight lines pass through my district.

There are children in my district who hop over mile-long trains that block their path to school.

So why am I talking about rail safety when we are supposed to be talking about the default?

Because in Illinois alone the Republican default on America act would take away more than a year's worth of rail safety inspection days--470 to be exact.

If they get their way, Republicans will make rail more dangerous in my district and across the country, and when accidents happen, communities like mine pay the price. For that reason, and for the many reasons that my colleagues are here to bring up, we continue to reject the Republicans' default plan.

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