Congressman Resurrects Attempt to Nullify Federal Two-Person Crew (2-PC) Rule

We’ve got to hand it to Congressman Eric Burlison (R-Missouri): he’s very good at staying on-brand.  
 
After an unsuccessful attempt to codify Congress’s “disapproval” of the federal two-person crew (2-PC) rule in April of 2024, he’s back with a new piece of legislation that serves as another clear reminder that he’s officially against us. 
 
Tell your Congressperson: support railroad safety nationwide by voting against this latest attempt to appease the carriers at the expense of the men and women who keep our railroads running.

Déjà Vu with New Attempt to Invalidate 2-PC 

Last week, Congressman Burlison filed the “Train Crew Choice Act,“ which seeks to repeal the 2024 rule that requires a second crew member on Class I freight and passenger trains.  
 
Claiming that the intent of the bill is to “stop union bosses from using Washington to get what they can’t win at the bargaining table,” he is trying to once again overturn our long-sought and hard-won 2-PC rule that took decades to become a reality.  
 
We called out this anti-worker behavior when we saw it last year, and we’re not about to shy away from doing it again: the safety of our communities and all railroaders, including SMART-TD members is too important to do anything else.

The Facts Matter 

Congressman Burlison goes into more detail in the bill’s announcement, claiming that “We should not [be] imposing unnecessary regulations that benefit special interests.”  
 
That’s an ironic statement coming from someone who received the bulk of his campaign contributions from the AAR (American Railroads), ASLRRA, UP, BNSF, CSX and NS, plus short-line operators Genesee & Wyoming and Herzog last election cycle.  
 
These are some of the very players who fight against regulations for the rail industry, claiming that they can regulate themselves without the need for federal oversight or accountability.  

They are the definition of “special interests,” and this newest attempt to overturn 2-PC is at the top of their deregulatory wish list.  
 
We suggest Congressman Burlison take a good hard look in the mirror before throwing around buzz words without any context in a desperate attempt to drum up votes for his dangerous, misguided legislation.

Don’t Take Last Year’s Defeat for Granted

If history is any indication, Congressman Burlison’s second attempt to invalidate 2-PC will hopefully fall as flat as the first one.  
 
But here’s the reality: things in the political arena aren’t the same as they were a year-and-a-half ago.  
 
We’ve lost some important allies while the carriers have inevitably gained some new supporters.  
 
That’s why it’s critically important to ensure that Congressman Burlison’s legislation doesn’t see the light of day, let alone a floor vote in either chamber.  
 
Together, we can remind Burlison that SMART-TD’s members are the true industry experts on railroad safety and a force to be reckoned with when we stand together.