Laredo International Rail Bridge

Floor Speech

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Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight an issue on our southern border, at the Laredo International Rail Bridge, linking the United States to Mexico. This particular bridge is owned by the Kansas City Southern railroad. They are a crucial fixture of the greater Kansas City area economy, employing more than 7,000 people and operating thousands of miles of rail network between the United States and Mexico.

Trains that cross the Laredo International Rail Bridge in either direction are required to stop in the middle of the bridge and switch out the crews and perform various inspections before continuing. This often exacerbates the congestion at the busiest rail crossing on the southern border and leaves the sometimes miles-long trains blocking streets and highways on both sides of the border. Moreover, it limits the number of trains that can make this crossing daily. Many of those trains are carrying agricultural goods, some being shipped from Kansas.

I understand the difficult situation at this border and the importance of finding a solution. The current status of operations at the Laredo International Rail Bridge is inefficient, time-consuming, and a safety hazard. I am also concerned about alternate solutions that do not take our rail workers' labor rights into account. I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find a solution that will protect workers' rights and maintain safety, while also maximizing time and space so that our railroads can continue to be successful. Safety and efficiency are the watchwords in solving this problem and we need a reasonable and equitable solution.

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