Today, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched a digital ad campaign calling attention to Congressman David Valadao’s recent vote against allocating an additional $750 million to install positive train control (PTC) on Amtrak.
A California train crash that killed 25 people in 2008 was the impetus for the federal law requiring PTC, a safety measure that the National Transportation Safety Board said could have prevented the recent tragic Amtrak accident and many other serious accidents like it. However, Valadao chose to join his Republican colleagues in voting against funding for the installation of PTC.
This week, digital ads will highlight Valadao’s vote against additional PTC funding, targeting transportation and Amtrak focused users in his district.
“It defies logic that Congressman Valadao would vote against additional funding for critical safety equipment that would make passenger rail travel dramatically safer. Experts agree, Positive Train Control would have prevented numerous fatal rail accidents across the country, yet even with that information, Congressman Valadao voted against allocating funding for the installation of this critical safety feature,” said Matt Thornton of the DCCC. “Voters in Valadao’s district deserve to know that their Member of Congress actually voted against making Amtrak safer.”
Valadao Voted Against Amendment To Authorize $750 Million In Positive Train Control That Could Have Prevented Amtrak Collision. In May 2015, Valadao voted against an amendment to authorize $750 million in positive train control. “House Democrats wanted increased funding for an automated train control system that could have prevented last week’s deadly Amtrak crash included in a surface transportation bill being voted on Tuesday… A spokesman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Democrats were offering a motion to recommit on the road and transit measure that the House is voting on Tuesday that would boost the federal government’s funding for the automated train control system to $750 million.” [The Hill, 5/19/15; HR 2353, Roll Call #248, 5/19/15]
NTSB Investigator: Positive Train Control System Would Have Prevented Pennsylvania Crash. “‘Based on what we know right now, we feel that had such a system been installed in this section of track, this accident would not have occurred,’ National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt told reporters Wednesday evening. Sumwalt, who is leading the crash probe, spoke hours after the House Appropriations Committee voted down a Democratic amendment that would have offered $825 million for the technology known as positive train control.” [Politico, 5/13/15]
Positive Train Control Required By Law After California Train Crash Killed 25 People. “Positive train control uses radio and GPS signals as well as other technologies to detect and reduce trains’ speed. Congress demanded the technology be implemented nationwide by 2015 after a California train collision left 25 people dead and more than 100 injured in 2008.” [US News, 5/14/15]