3.0.0
971
2025-06-17T17:00:30Z
2025-06-17T17:00:30Z
House
H
HR
2025-02-04
119
[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 4, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mrs. SYKES:H.R. 971.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18.[Page H461]
- hspw00
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
House
Standing
  - hspw14
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee
    - Referred to
2025-02-04T22:13:07Z
  - Referred To
2025-02-04T17:07:50Z
- 2025-02-04
  - hspw14
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee
1
House committee actions
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Committee
- 2025-02-04
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
IntroReferral
H11100
2
House floor actions
  - hspw00
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- 2025-02-04
Introduced in House
IntroReferral
Intro-H
9
Library of Congress
- 2025-02-04
Introduced in House
IntroReferral
1000
9
Library of Congress
- S001223
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
Emilia
Sykes
D
OH
Strong
13
N
- R000619
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
Michael
Rulli
R
OH
A.
6
2025-02-04
True
- B001281
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
Joyce
Beatty
D
OH
3
2025-02-04
True
- B001313
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
Shontel
Brown
D
OH
M.
11
2025-02-04
True
- K000009
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
Marcy
Kaptur
D
OH
9
2025-02-04
True
- L000601
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
Greg
Landsman
D
OH
1
2025-02-04
True
- M001222
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
Max
Miller
R
OH
L.
7
2025-02-06
False
- E000301
Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]
Sarah
Elfreth
D
MD
3
2025-03-10
False
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation and Public Works
2025-03-07T13:05:56Z
00
2025-02-04
Introduced in House
2025-06-17T16:58:40Z
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, DOT must update rail car inspection regulations and audit related inspection programs. This includes prohibiting a railroad from limiting the time required for an employee to complete a railcar, locomotive, or brake safety inspection.
The bill also
- increases the maximum fines DOT may impose on rail carriers for violating safety regulations;
- establishes a statutory requirement for freight trains to have at least two crew members, with exceptions;
- phases out certain railroad tank cars by May 1, 2030;
- expands training for local first responders; and
- imposes a new fee on certain rail carriers.

RAIL Act
- Display Title
45

RAIL Act
2025-03-05T05:08:26Z
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
101

RAIL Act
2025-03-05T05:08:20Z
Introduced in House
IH
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
101

Reducing Accidents In Locomotives Act
2025-03-05T05:08:20Z
Introduced in House
IH
- Official Title as Introduced
6

To enhance safety requirements for trains transporting hazardous materials, and for other purposes.
2025-03-05T05:03:20Z
Introduced in House
IH
- Introduced in House
2025-02-04T05:00:00Z
  - https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr971ih/xml/BILLS-119hr971ih.xml
2025-02-04
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
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.