3.0.0 1633 2024-09-21T08:05:58Z 2024-09-21T08:05:58Z House H HR 2023-03-17 118 [Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 50 (Friday, March 17, 2023)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio:H.R. 1633.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. ConstitutionThe single subject of this legislation is:Create a safer and more efficient freigh rail system toprotect both our critical supply chains and the communitiesthey operate in.[Page H1295]]]> hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee House Standing hspw14 Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Referred to 2023-03-20T20:58:27Z Referred to 2023-03-17T15:05:10Z 2024-01-29 19:07:26 ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mrs. Sykes asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1633, a bill originally introduced by Representative Johnson (OH), for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection. Floor H8D000 2 House floor actions 2023-03-20 hspw14 Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. Committee 2023-03-17 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 2023-03-17 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2023-03-17 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress J000292 Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6] Bill Johnson R OH 6 N S001223 Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13] Emilia Sykes D OH Strong 13 2023-03-17 True M001222 Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7] Max Miller R OH L. 7 2023-03-17 True L000601 Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] Greg Landsman D OH 1 2023-03-17 True B001306 Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12] Troy Balderson R OH 12 2023-03-17 True K000009 Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] MARCY KAPTUR D OH 9 2023-03-17 True C001126 Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15] Mike Carey R OH 15 2023-03-17 True B001281 Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] Joyce Beatty D OH 3 2023-03-17 True J000295 Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14] David Joyce R OH P. 14 2023-03-17 True B001313 Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11] Shontel Brown D OH M. 11 2023-03-17 True T000463 Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10] Michael Turner R OH R. 10 2023-03-17 True K000391 Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] Raja Krishnamoorthi D IL 8 2023-04-26 False D000631 Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] Madeleine Dean D PA 4 2023-05-16 False B001260 Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16] Vern Buchanan R FL 16 2023-05-26 False M001221 Rep. Molinaro, Marcus J. [R-NY-19] Marcus Molinaro R NY J. 19 2023-10-26 False E000297 Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] Adriano Espaillat D NY 13 2024-09-20 False Transportation and Public Works Administrative law and regulatory procedures 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z Civil actions and liability 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z Department of Transportation 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z Employment and training programs 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z Government information and archives 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z Government studies and investigations 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z Hazardous wastes and toxic substances 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z Labor-management relations 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z Licensing and registrations 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z Railroads 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z Transportation safety and security 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z User charges and fees 2024-02-09T20:00:53Z Transportation and Public Works 2023-04-13T21:00:20Z 00 2023-03-17 Introduced in House 2024-02-20T16:48:32Z Reducing Accidents In Locomotives Act or the RAIL Act

This bill addresses safety requirements for rail carriers and trains transporting hazardous materials.

Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must issue safety regulations for trains carrying hazardous materials to require that rail carriers (1) provide state emergency response commissioners with advance notice and information about the hazardous materials; (2) reduce blocked rail crossings; and (3) comply with certain requirements regarding train length and weight specifications, track standards, speed restrictions, and response plans.

DOT must also establish requirements for wayside defect detectors. These are used by railway systems alongside the tracks to detect defects and failures (e.g., wheel bearing failures). Current federal regulations do not require their use, but federal guidance does address their placement and use. Under the bill, DOT must issue regulations establishing requirements for the installation, repair, testing, maintenance, and operation of wayside defect detectors for each rail carrier operating a train carrying hazardous materials. Further, these regulations must establish requirements that safety placards be able to withstand heat in excess of 180 degrees.

The bill also

  • increases the maximum fines DOT may impose on rail carriers for violating safety regulations,
  • requires DOT to update rail car inspection regulations and audit the federal inspection program,
  • phases out certain railroad tank cars by May 1, 2028 (one year sooner than required under current law),
  • expands training for local first responders, and
  • imposes a new fee on certain rail carriers.
]]> RAIL Act Display Title 45 RAIL Act 2024-07-24T15:23:15Z Short Title(s) as Introduced 101 RAIL Act 2024-05-24T13:41:33Z Introduced in House IH Short Title(s) as Introduced 101 Reducing Accidents In Locomotives Act 2024-05-24T13:41:33Z Introduced in House IH Official Title as Introduced 6 To enhance safety requirements for trains transporting hazardous materials, and for other purposes. 2024-03-18T20:28:33Z Introduced in House IH Introduced in House 2023-03-17T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-118hr1633ih/xml/BILLS-118hr1633ih.xml 2024-01-29 ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mrs. Sykes asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1633, a bill originally introduced by Representative Johnson (OH), for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection. 19:07:26 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.