3.0.0 874 2023-01-15T22:48:24Z 2023-01-15T22:48:24Z House H HR 2003-02-25 108 sscm00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Senate Standing Referred to 2003-05-09T15:56:27Z hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee House Standing Reported by 2003-03-18T19:17:39Z Markup by 2003-02-26T22:19:20Z Referred to 2003-02-25T19:01:50Z H. Rept. 108-39 2003-05-09 sscm00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Senate Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. IntroReferral 2003-05-08 12:06:54 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. Floor H38310 2 House floor actions 2003-05-08 12:06:54 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 5 (Roll no. 172). (text: CR 5/07/2003 H3705-3707) Floor H37300 2 House floor actions 172 https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2003/roll172.xml House 108 2003-05-08T16:06:54Z 1 2003-05-08 12:06:54 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 5 (Roll no. 172).(text: CR 5/07/2003 H3705-3707) Floor 8000 9 Library of Congress 172 https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2003/roll172.xml House 108 2003-05-08T16:06:54Z 1 2003-05-08 12:03:22 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3776-3777) Floor H30000 2 House floor actions 2003-05-07 11:26:30 At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. Floor H37220 2 House floor actions 2003-05-07 11:21:44 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 874. Floor H8D000 2 House floor actions 2003-05-07 11:21:21 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3705-3708; text of measure as reported in House) Floor H30000 2 House floor actions 2003-05-07 11:19:58 Mr. Quinn moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. Floor H30300 2 House floor actions 2003-03-18 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 26. Calendars H12410 2 House floor actions U00026 2003-03-18 Reported by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 108-39. Committee H12200 2 House floor actions hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 2003-03-18 Reported by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 108-39. Committee 5000 9 Library of Congress hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 2003-02-26 hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 1 House committee actions Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote. Committee 2003-02-26 hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 1 House committee actions Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. Committee 2003-02-25 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 2003-02-25 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2003-02-25 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress Y000033 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] DON YOUNG R AK E. N O000006 Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8] JAMES OBERSTAR D MN L. 8 2003-02-25 True Q000016 Rep. Quinn, Jack [R-NY-27] JACK QUINN R NY 27 2003-02-25 True B000911 Rep. Brown, Corrine [D-FL-3] CORRINE BROWN D FL 3 2003-02-25 True M001139 Rep. Miller, Gary G. [R-CA-42] GARY MILLER R CA 42 2003-02-25 True B001248 Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] Michael Burgess R TX C. 26 2003-02-25 True S001152 Rep. Simmons, Rob [R-CT-2] ROB SIMMONS R CT 2 2003-02-26 False 2003-03-12T06:00:00Z H.R. 874, Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2003 http://www.cbo.gov/publication/14320 <p>Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 26, 2003</p> 2003-03-12T06:00:00Z H.R. 874, Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2003 https://www.cbo.gov/publication/14320 Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 26, 2003 Transportation and Public Works Aliens Business records Commemorations Commerce Compensation (Law) Congress Congressional reporting requirements Counseling Damages Death Emergency Management Emergency medicine Employee training Families Family services Federal advisory bodies Federal officials Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Government publicity Governmental investigations Health Information services Labor and Employment Law Lawyers Legal advertising and soliciting Legal ethics Liability (Law) Medical personnel Mental health services Monuments and memorials National Transportation Safety Board Nonprofit organizations Paramedical personnel Public meetings Railroad employees Railroad passenger traffic Railroad safety Railroads Rescue work Science, Technology, Communications Social Welfare Telephone Travel costs Victims Volunteer workers Transportation and Public Works 00 2003-02-25 Introduced in House 2006-11-28T17:35:40Z Directs each rail passenger carrier to submit to the Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of the Board a plan for addressing the needs of the families of passengers involved in a rail passenger accident resulting in a major loss of life.

Directs the Secretary to establish a task force to develop for Congress a model plan to assist passenger rail carriers in responding to passenger rail accidents, as well as recommendations on methods to: (1) improve timely notification by passenger rail carriers to the families of passengers involved in a passenger rail accident; (2) ensure that the families of non-U.S. citizens receive appropriate assistance; and (3) ensure that emergency services personnel have as immediate and accurate a count of the number of passengers onboard the train as possible.]]>

79 2003-03-18 Reported to House without amendment 2006-11-28T17:35:40Z (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced in the House on February 25, 2003. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2003 - (Sec. 2) Amends Federal transportation law to require the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as soon as practicable after being notified of a rail passenger accident involving a major loss of life, to: (1) designate and publicize the name and phone number of an NTSB employee who shall be a director of family support services responsible for acting as a point of contact within the Federal Government for the families of passengers involved in a rail passenger accident, and a liaison between the rail passenger carrier and the families; and (2) designate an independent nonprofit organization (with experience in disasters and post-trauma communication with families) which shall have primary responsibility for coordinating the emotional care and support of the families of passengers involved in such accidents.

Declares it shall be the responsibility of the director of family support services to request, as soon as practicable, from the rail passenger carrier involved in an accident a list of the names of the passengers who were aboard the carrier's train. Authorizes a designated organization also to request such list from such carrier. Prohibits the director of family support services and a designated organization from releasing list information to any person, except that information about a passenger may be provided to the passenger's family to the extent considered appropriate by the director or organization. Requires the NTSB, in the course of its investigation of an accident, to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the families of passengers involved in the accident are: (1) briefed, prior to any public briefing about the accident and any other findings from the investigation; and (2) individually informed of and allowed to attend any public hearings and meetings of the Board about such accident.

Prohibits: (1) a person (including a State or political subdivision) from impeding the ability of the NTSB (including the director of family support services) or the designated organization to carry out its responsibilities under this Act, or the ability of the families of passengers involved in an accident to have contact with one another; (2) unsolicited communication concerning a potential action for personal injury or wrongful death to be made by an attorney or any potential party to the litigation to an individual (other than an employee of the rail passenger carrier) injured in an accident, or to a relative of an individual involved in such accident, before the 45th day following the date of the accident; and (3) a State or political subdivision from preventing the employees, agents, or volunteers of an organization from providing mental health and counseling services in the 30-day period beginning on the date of an accident.

States that procedures required by this Act (other than the prohibition on impeding the NTSB, on unsolicited attorney contact, and the guarantee of access to mental health and counseling services) shall not apply when the NTSB has relinquished investigative authority to a Federal criminal investigative agency. Requires the NTSB, in such circumstances, however, to assist the agency with primary investigative responsibility in helping families of accident victims.

(Sec. 3) Directs each rail passenger carrier to submit to the Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of the Board a plan for addressing the needs of the families of passengers involved in a rail passenger accident resulting in a major loss of life. Shields a rail passenger carrier from liability for damages (except for gross negligence or intentional misconduct) in any action brought in a Federal or State court arising out of the carrier's performance in preparing or providing a passenger list, or in providing information concerning a train reservation, pursuant to the carrier's plan.

(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary, in cooperation with the NTSB, designated organizations, rail passenger carriers, and families which have been involved in rail accidents, to establish a task force consisting of representatives of such entities and families, representatives of passenger rail carrier employees, and representatives of other appropriate entities to develop for Congress a model plan to assist passenger rail carriers in responding to passenger rail accidents, as well as recommendations on methods to: (1) improve timely notification by passenger rail carriers to the families of passengers involved in a passenger rail accident; (2) ensure that the families of non-U.S. citizens involved in such an accident receive appropriate assistance; and (3) ensure that emergency services personnel have as immediate and accurate a count of the number of passengers onboard the train as possible.]]>

81 2003-05-08 Passed House without amendment 2006-11-28T17:35:40Z (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on March 18, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2003 - (Sec. 2) Amends Federal transportation law to require the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as soon as practicable after being notified of a rail passenger accident involving a major loss of life, to: (1) designate and publicize the name and phone number of an NTSB employee who shall be a director of family support services responsible for acting as a point of contact within the Federal Government for the families of passengers involved in a rail passenger accident, and a liaison between the rail passenger carrier and the families; and (2) designate an independent nonprofit organization (with experience in disasters and post-trauma communication with families) which shall have primary responsibility for coordinating the emotional care and support of the families of passengers involved in such accidents.

Declares it shall be the responsibility of the director of family support services to request, as soon as practicable, from the rail passenger carrier involved in an accident a list of the names of the passengers who were aboard the carrier's train. Authorizes a designated organization also to request such list from such carrier. Prohibits the director of family support services and a designated organization from releasing list information to any person, except that information about a passenger may be provided to the passenger's family to the extent considered appropriate by the director or organization. Requires the NTSB, in the course of its investigation of an accident, to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the families of passengers involved in the accident are: (1) briefed, prior to any public briefing about the accident and any other findings from the investigation; and (2) individually informed of and allowed to attend any public hearings and meetings of the Board about such accident.

Prohibits: (1) a person (including a State or political subdivision) from impeding the ability of the NTSB (including the director of family support services) or the designated organization to carry out its responsibilities under this Act, or the ability of the families of passengers involved in an accident to have contact with one another; (2) unsolicited communication concerning a potential action for personal injury or wrongful death to be made by an attorney or any potential party to the litigation to an individual (other than an employee of the rail passenger carrier) injured in an accident, or to a relative of an individual involved in such accident, before the 45th day following the date of the accident; and (3) a State or political subdivision from preventing the employees, agents, or volunteers of an organization from providing mental health and counseling services in the 30-day period beginning on the date of an accident.

States that procedures required by this Act (other than the prohibition on impeding the NTSB, on unsolicited attorney contact, and the guarantee of access to mental health and counseling services) shall not apply when the NTSB has relinquished investigative authority to a Federal criminal investigative agency. Requires the NTSB, in such circumstances, however, to assist the agency with primary investigative responsibility in helping families of accident victims.

(Sec. 3) Directs each rail passenger carrier to submit to the Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of the Board a plan for addressing the needs of the families of passengers involved in a rail passenger accident resulting in a major loss of life. Shields a rail passenger carrier from liability for damages (except for gross negligence or intentional misconduct) in any action brought in a Federal or State court arising out of the carrier's performance in preparing or providing a passenger list, or in providing information concerning a train reservation, pursuant to the carrier's plan.

(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary, in cooperation with the NTSB, designated organizations, rail passenger carriers, and families which have been involved in rail accidents, to establish a task force consisting of representatives of such entities and families, representatives of passenger rail carrier employees, and representatives of other appropriate entities to develop for Congress a model plan to assist passenger rail carriers in responding to passenger rail accidents, as well as recommendations on methods to: (1) improve timely notification by passenger rail carriers to the families of passengers involved in a passenger rail accident; (2) ensure that the families of non-U.S. citizens involved in such an accident receive appropriate assistance; and (3) ensure that emergency services personnel have as immediate and accurate a count of the number of passengers onboard the train as possible.]]>

Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2003 Display Title Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2003 Official Title as Introduced To establish a program, coordinated by the National Transportation Safety Board, of assistance to families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents. Introduced in House IH Short Titles as Introduced Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2003 Short Titles as Reported to House Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2003 H House Short Titles as Passed House Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2003 H House Referred in Senate 2003-05-09T04:00:00Z Engrossed in House 2003-05-08T04:00:00Z Reported in House 2003-03-18T05:00:00Z Introduced in House 2003-02-25T05:00:00Z 2003-05-09 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.