217.370.8505 cory@bletislb.org

http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=10234

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 19 – BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce will testify before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials at a hearing titled “The State of the Rail Workforce” at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 20.

The hearing will explore current issues facing railroad workers, including employment cutbacks and safety issues. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) serves as Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.

Additional witnesses will include: John Previsich, President, SMART Transportation Division; Jerry C. Boles, President, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; Andrew W. Sandberg, Assistant to the President, Directing General Chairman, IAM District Lodge 19; William Gonzalez, President, Amtrak Police Fraternal Order of Police Labor Committee; Ronald L. Batory, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration; and Ian Jefferies, President & CEO, Association of American Railroads.

A live webcast of the hearing will be available on the House T&I website at the following link:

https://transportation.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/the-subcommittee-on-railroads-pipelines-and-hazardous-materials-hearing-on_–the-state-of-the-rail-workforce