Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement following the announcement of a new voluntary safety agreement between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the nation’s freight railroads.

“These standards are good news for communities near rail lines, but there is more work to do. We need a strong federal rail car standard, more resources for training first responders, and a better understanding on whether crude oil from the Bakken region is more volatile than oil from other regions.

“I am meeting with city, county and public safety leaders along the Northwest Washington rail corridor this and next week to talk about what we can do now to improve safety for our communities. I look forward to next week’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing to get more answers on what more we can do to improve safety.”

Larsen recently called for quick action from the U.S. Department of Transportation and has been meeting on the issue with administration officials, private companies, labor groups and local government leaders in Northwest Washington.

Larsen discussed the issue in a meeting with leaders in Whatcom County yesterday and will meet with officials in Skagit and Snohomish counties on Monday.