Representative Paul Evans Sells Out Oregon Railroaders

Three states bordering Oregon (California, Washington, and Nevada) have passed two-person crew (2-PC) laws. 

Oregon State Representative Paul Evans (D) has voiced support for 2-PC in the past, signaling a readiness to join neighboring states in safeguarding critical logistics infrastructure in his state. When the time came, however, he refused to support the legislation.  

He claimed that Oregon has no use for the law, because he naively assumed the issue has already been resolved at the federal level.   
 
As SMART-TD and our members know all too well, 2-PC is a rule, not a law, on the federal level. Rules are easy to change. This is why it is important to continue the push for state-level laws to support the FRA’s 2024 ruling. 

With Us or Against Us

This vote against 2-PC makes it clear: Representative Paul Evans is squarely against us. He has betrayed the safety of railroaders and communities across Oregon. 
 
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: we support legislators who will help address the most critical issues facing our members, regardless of party.    
 
If Representative Evans assumes that he can count on our union’s support when the next election cycle rolls around, he is mistaken.  

Defeated but Not Deterred

SMART-TD’s Oregon Safety & Legislative Director Dan Garrison knows that this is one bill that needs to become a reality. 

“This was the no brainer bill for us,” SLD Garrison explained. “This is the bill that we wanted to get passed first. This was the most important one that [we] wanted to do.”

After months of work, hours of testimony, and a schedule packed full of meetings with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, his hopes were dashed during the Joint Committee on Transportation’s work session on May 19 thanks to one Rep. Paul Evans.  
 
Despite this slap in the face, SLD Garrison is continuing to fight for rail safety in Oregon.  
 
Looking ahead to the next session, he’s already planning to introduce at least three bills and isn’t letting this setback dictate SMART-TD’s legislative agenda.  
 
One thing is for certain: he won’t be counting on Representative Evans’ support to get the legislation over the finish line, and the gentleman from Monmouth shouldn’t bank on any kind of endorsement come election season.   
 
There are consequences to your actions.