Senator Jen McEwen of Minnesota was patting backs in Washington this week, giving two thumbs up to the Biden administration for rolling out new nationwide train crew safety standards similar to those she championed in her home state. In a move to bolster rail safety, the administration mandated a minimum of two crew members on all types of trains, a standard McEwen had previously pushed into Minnesota law.
The rule, announced on April 2 by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, echos Minnesota's law from 2023 that called for a twosome on every train running through the state, the one pushed by McEwen and signed off on May 5 in a transportation omnibus bill by Governor Tim Walz. The new federal regulation encompasses freight, passenger, and commuter rails, aiming to enhance safety for workers and those living near railroads, while McEwen has her eyes set on further reforms which include maximum working hours for yardmasters and stipulations regarding train length and the usage of way-side detectors that collectively aim to tighten the slack in current labor policies.
Championing the "common-sense" rail safety standards now being adopted by the feds, McEwen wore her pride on her sleeve in a recent press release. "I’m excited to see President Biden adopt these common-sense rail safety standards," Senator McEwen said in a statement. Her legislative collaboration with Senator Rob Kupec was highlighted as they conjointly introduced measures to safeguard labor within the rail industry further; McEwen hopes the administration will mirror Minnesota's efforts yet again.
While the federal push for improved rail safeguards throws a spotlight on a broader strategy, focused on labor policy and infrastructure under the Biden White House, McEwen is unyielding that Minnesota's actions should serve as a beacon for this inspiring national change, at least that’s what her statement suggests, having worked closely on the groundbreaking Minnesota law, McEwen now watches its principles echo in the halls of federal governance, this is perhaps a testament to the living, breathing efficacy of state-level activism in shaping national policy.
