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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 13, 2015 12:54 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Robert F. Matzie |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution Recognizing the Freight Rail Industry and its Employees |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution that recognizes the contributions that the freight rail industry and its employees have made to the national transportation system. Since 1830, freight rail has been instrumental in bringing American goods to market on a national and international scale. Each year, with 140,000 miles of track, freight rail moves approximately 40 tons of freight for every person in the United States. Additionally, freight rail has evolved to become one of the most fuel efficient means of transporting goods, able to transport one ton of freight approximately 476 miles on one gallon of diesel fuel. Due to these improvements to fuel efficiency, freight rail has consumed 69.8 billion fewer gallons of fuel and emitted 781 million fewer tons of carbon dioxide since 1980. By continuing to enhance fuel efficiency, and also by creating an estimated 180,000 good paying jobs nationwide, freight rail remains an essential driver for economic growth and innovation. Freight rail companies have greatly aided this growth by reinvesting $550 billion in revenues toward equipment, maintenance and rail expansion since 1980. These economic advances can be felt right here in Pennsylvania where our infrastructure of 5,000 miles of track, 13,000 railroad employees, and more operating railroads than any other state will continue to benefit from the future potential of the freight rail industry. Please join me in recognizing the contributions that the freight rail industry and its employees have made to the national transportation system. |
Introduced as HR252