109 HR 2351 IH: Rail Security Act of 2005
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-05-12
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.
1.This Act may be cited as the Rail Security Act of 2005
.
<enum>I</enum><header>Railroad Security</header>
<section id="HC700745AC8DD4DAA9D964F48B7644919"><enum>101.</enum><header>Railroad transportation security</header>
<subsection id="HCB4D7D8D56164C5AB1204DA0E5006BF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header>
<paragraph id="H2B24B107B61D48D2A4EFA1735172DA24"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The Secretary shall develop, prepare, implement, and update—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2B74B54BCE4242BE847EA395F6792492"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a railroad security assessment under subsection (b)(1);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HBA544A4C6BA4401A8E00AC12193B187C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a railroad security plan under subsection (b)(2);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7AE11448986444B9A6F28F06C111D6B1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>prioritized recommendations for improving railroad security under subsection (d); </text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H53905A0C2C0E4A48909B4D1FFC453900"><enum>(D)</enum><text>guidance for the rail worker security training program as authorized by section 104; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE3395C0FE95D49559CF89C00FBE77D95"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a national plan for public outreach and awareness for improving railroad security as authorized by section 107.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFF2470A234A9477A97E6E5172C2B8CFB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Role of secretary of transportation</header><text>The Secretary shall work jointly with the Secretary of Transportation, in developing, preparing, revising, implementing, and updating the documents required by paragraph (1).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H69C32AD59B214CA5B5F63F9C5DB52537"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Memorandum of agreement</header><text>Within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of Transportation shall execute a memorandum of agreement governing the roles and responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation, respectively, in addressing railroad transportation security matters, including the processes the departments will follow to carry out this title and promote communications, efficiency, and nonduplication of effort.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HFC5561806D324EE0BFD9E94E350003F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Security assessment</header>
<paragraph id="HEE991A0F910448E581BFD3612BE1AD64"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete the security assessment of railroad transportation required under subsection (a)(1). The security assessment shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="H02AF0249A29D4DEE976FA5C2E2DBD37E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identification and evaluation of critical railroad assets and infrastructures;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA3D4F8924C5A43CCBEF8A6E8AA99B4CB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>identification of threats to those assets and infrastructures;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H61C93041CD4F4A1B9D9EF639F8BD05E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>identification of vulnerabilities that are specific to the transportation of hazardous materials by railroad;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H60A75F41BFAC402EB660B8F5FB260C6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>identification of redundant and backup systems required to ensure the continued operation of critical elements of the railroad system in the event of an attack or other incident, including disruption of commercial electric power or communications networks; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HCA6118AD14104FE190EA82CF6E69D3E0"><enum>(E)</enum><text>identification of security weaknesses in passenger and cargo security, transportation infrastructure, protection systems (including passenger and cargo screening), procedural policies, communications systems, employee training, emergency response planning, and any other area identified by the assessment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H26081F7056E74DAB91A2DD65EFE6300"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Security plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall use the security assessment completed under paragraph (1) to develop a transportation modal security plan under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/49/114">section 114(t)(1)(B)</external-xref> of title 49, United States Code, for the security of the Nation’s railroads. The plan shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7E6DE39CCD4A4E2B87A90034434C85F6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>establish a strategy for minimizing terrorist threats to railroad transportation systems;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H928FF47008414D9CAC8D787B9FBCC39D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>establish a strategy for maximizing the efforts of railroads to mitigate damage from terrorist attacks;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8EE40978A5D145D985A3C79258B6512E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>require the Federal Government to provide increased security support at high or severe threat levels of alert;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2C9B799CD5A14FAB007254B5CE81C7D6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>set forth procedures for establishing and maintaining permanent and comprehensive consultative relations among the parties described in subsection (c);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4828F71DD99D4C99988CB6F49C36ECCB"><enum>(E)</enum><text>include a contingency plan to ensure the continued movement of freight and passengers in the event of an attack affecting the railroad system, which shall contemplate—</text>
<clause id="H0D2DDE0D7E224272BCF5805700C32CA5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the possibility of rerouting traffic due to the loss of critical infrastructure, such as a bridge, tunnel, yard, or station; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H976AE6289EC64335A977A4BD1E620083"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>methods of continuing railroad service in the Northeast Corridor in the event of a commercial power loss, or catastrophe affecting a critical bridge, tunnel, yard, or station; and</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HC924C5AF39AC4FC9002934B2A6BF9777"><enum>(F)</enum><text>account for actions taken or planned by both public and private entities to address security issues identified under paragraph (1) and assess the effective integration of such actions.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H87F9D35F52D3442B8DF0520548BEB1E3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing the plan under subsection (b)(2) and the recommendations under subsection (d), the Secretary and the Secretary of Transportation shall consult with the freight and passenger railroad carriers, nonprofit employee organizations representing rail workers, nonprofit employee organizations representing emergency responders, owners or lessors of rail cars used to transport hazardous materials, shippers of hazardous materials, manufacturers of rail tank cars, State Departments of Transportation, public safety officials, and other relevant parties.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H929409F845604A6BAFBAE17F11EF5080"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall develop prioritized recommendations for improving railroad security, including recommendations for—</text>
<paragraph id="H2F7C25545F1F48A08949EA7433D23D57"><enum>(1)</enum><text>improving the security of rail tunnels, rail bridges, rail switching and car storage areas, other rail infrastructure and facilities, information systems, and other areas identified as posing significant railroad-related risks to public safety and the movement of interstate commerce, taking into account the impact that any proposed security measure might have on the provision of railroad service;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7CDA29F83DFA475CB923BCBAAC5400C2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>deploying surveillance equipment;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFAB0621DE153474686DD00346610DA7C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>deploying equipment to detect explosives and hazardous chemical, biological, and radioactive substances, and any appropriate countermeasures;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H68CBFC2F432143BF9094BB1314F4BE1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>installing redundant and backup systems to ensure the continued operation of critical elements of the railroad system in the event of an attack or other incident, including disruption of commercial electric power or communications networks;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H36F2374D2498476AAF3065DEA4F3E472"><enum>(5)</enum><text>conducting public outreach campaigns on passenger railroads; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA7EBD162C1AA4E7B863B399368F11829"><enum>(6)</enum><text>identifying the immediate and long-term costs of measures that may be required to address those risks.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HD99CFBB6F119407FBC2631C383002D34"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Report</header>
<paragraph id="H85FFB84833D4439DA193FFF7FB58C945"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing the security assessment, plan, and prioritized recommendations required by this section, along with an estimate of the cost to implement such recommendations.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H04DED550EF3449F98148D6446DCF5FFA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Format</header><text>The report may be submitted in a classified format if the Secretary determines that such action is necessary.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H8C7338C1F0D8466194184F78A78245F0"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Periodic updates</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall update the railroad security assessment, security plan, and prioritized recommendations for improving railroad security under subsection (a), and the guidance for a railroad worker security training program under section 105, every 2 years and submit a report, which may be submitted in both classified and redacted formats, to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not less frequently than April 1 of each even-numbered year. </text></subsection>
<subsection id="HDBC25B09F8FD4D5E8CB2CBA80A579F7"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for the purpose of carrying out this section.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H470940E50DB44037A3E0060393D72BD1"><enum>102.</enum><header>Freight and passenger rail security upgrades</header>
<subsection id="H6FE512FE3D864DD49F146B56CD0296BA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Security improvement grants</header><text>The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation, is authorized to make grants to freight and passenger railroad carriers, nonprofit employee organizations that represent rail workers, shippers of hazardous materials by rail, owners of rail cars used in the transportation of hazardous materials, manufacturers of rail tank cars, and State and local governments, for costs incurred in the conduct of activities to prevent or respond to acts of terrorism or sabotage against railroads, or other railroad security threats, including—</text>
<paragraph id="HEB91F3FB81354AAFB2A5C391AECCF1F4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>perimeter protection systems, including access control, installation of better lighting, fencing, and barricades at railroad facilities;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9F12766E9C5B4B62B9343546C6749B70"><enum>(2)</enum><text>structural modification or replacement of rail cars transporting hazardous materials to improve their resistance to acts of terrorism;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9387E8B22DDF4C4C84D6BE851044EE95"><enum>(3)</enum><text>technologies for reduction of tank car vulnerability;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1C01CB29E7CE4C9B8B3BFB2F0010C8EE"><enum>(4)</enum><text>security improvements to passenger railroad stations, trains, and infrastructure;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H731A37B91589466696D027169686A2F2"><enum>(5)</enum><text>tunnel protection systems;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD7D710D6DFCC4D6DBD23A9CC2B1C33A6"><enum>(6)</enum><text>evacuation improvements;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0596CA4455F742EF89B4F59B2FE73631"><enum>(7)</enum><text>inspection technologies, including verified visual inspection technologies using hand-held readers and discs;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H55B0926102F445AE836898175719A52"><enum>(8)</enum><text>security and redundancy for critical communications, computer, and train control systems essential for secure railroad operations or to continue railroad operations after an attack impacting railroad operations;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCBA1E2BC7F614C578C37B816050018F1"><enum>(9)</enum><text>train tracking and interoperable communications systems;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFABCD1C6E68A49B78771AFF1C6504227"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">chemical, biological, radiological, or explosive detection systems and devices;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5A2512B8120B4C3D94BAC73284DC0316"><enum>(11)</enum><text>surveillance equipment;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H72F5CD5A8BA443AF86E540367509D97E"><enum>(12)</enum><text>additional police and security officers, including canine units;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5B7341B500D947A2BF31E166B9009F66"><enum>(13)</enum><text>accommodation of cargo or passenger screening equipment;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB7636C1A548D4BFD8087F5759C673700"><enum>(14)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">employee security awareness, preparedness, and response training (including compliance with section 105);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB2D207369B7D4CB8A805004757FBDDEF"><enum>(15)</enum><text>public security awareness campaigns;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD2EF03A131004FEBB9A28E7D100053E5"><enum>(16)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">emergency response equipment, including fire suppression and decontamination equipment; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC5B32101DF3D4163008207382DADAE"><enum>(17)</enum><text>other improvements recommended by the report required by section 101, including infrastructure, facilities, and equipment upgrades.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HE42525E5C9B540FCA66275B7A1B973D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conditions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall require recipients of funds for construction under this section and section 103 of this Act to apply the standards of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/49/24312">section 24312</external-xref> of title 49, United States Code, as in effect on September 1, 2004, with respect to the construction in the same manner as Amtrak is required to comply with such standards for construction work financed under an agreement made under section 24308(a) of such title 49.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H7B6E2C1972124C8FB5639567C81950AE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $600,000,000 to carry out the purposes of this section, of which $100,000,000 shall be used by the Secretary for making grants to Amtrak, in accordance with this section. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until expended.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H5F58A6EBDFDE4E5BAB60352CB9E4411" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header>Fire and life-safety improvements</header>
<subsection id="H7A6A6066F4044C6F914C402BC65E3EBA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Life-safety needs</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to Amtrak for the purposes of carrying out this section the following amounts:</text>
<paragraph id="H3FA16DB168D74BB985B7A17047FC3D50"><enum>(1)</enum><text>For the 6 New York tunnels to provide ventilation, electrical, and fire safety technology upgrades, emergency communication and lighting systems, and emergency access and egress for passengers—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB8866C4CB9964279B0E80050E0C5EE77"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9F8542856BD3420184B2CFB6A5B7F440"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2F9851CBE286450E99B0F46E51649586"><enum>(C)</enum><text>$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H632C8A44675F4D70B88881A9C3C97101"><enum>(D)</enum><text>$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD34D570FAE24467B86FF2671D9AB4C00"><enum>(E)</enum><text>$170,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB4E689CB78354165B2211D1F66E59646"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For the Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel and the Union tunnel, together, to provide adequate drainage, ventilation, communication, lighting, and passenger egress upgrades—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE270B779C2E9423382832DA65DB2F196"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HABEEBAC8C9B847B39DFBCFB26CC0EFBF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H327F09602772426FA0B9671452D064FC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H12A70BB129D348289B80CA5CC6D54073"><enum>(D)</enum><text>$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4127A562B67F42A793005FBC9C9E32D3"><enum>(E)</enum><text>$17,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H335CDBC63B61472C9B69AA549B4CBD64"><enum>(3)</enum><text>For the Washington, District of Columbia, Union Station tunnels to improve ventilation, communication, lighting, and passenger egress upgrades—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC6052F35AAE74426BD407017DC242755"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$8,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7D393A9AA35F4B64AB723E19CE3B04C7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$8,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H39B48BAFD3F24F47B8A1B15B9B55AFA7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>$8,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2A0C32CA06284F9F80C28FC72443C789"><enum>(D)</enum><text>$8,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H519695C742144719BDD996339418D240"><enum>(E)</enum><text>$8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HA1066F8C20F84FF9B923D86DAC9D9572"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Availability of appropriated funds</header><text>Amounts appropriated pursuant to this section shall remain available until expended.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HB30FEDA183A74AE99C51AFB683054951" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>104.</enum><header>Rail security research and development program</header>
<subsection id="H8A6AC3C6C06B4E5D8FFC0138785502B8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment of Research and Development Program</header><text>The Secretary shall carry out a research and development program for the purpose of improving railroad security that may include research and development projects to—</text>
<paragraph id="H0E4F5895287D46928F96006607C0AADC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>reduce the vulnerability of passenger trains, stations, and equipment to explosives and hazardous chemical, biological, and radioactive substances;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H034EE18F4F294975B617FB56FBF08801"><enum>(2)</enum><text>test new emergency response techniques and technologies;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD9B8C4AA06034EA28864285CF2C83C00"><enum>(3)</enum><text>develop improved freight technologies, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="H62B1611818C944F0B7C52B12244EAAC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>technologies for sealing rail cars;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HEEB6A47EA772484F940970E616C24BA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>automatic inspection of rail cars; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H479D9F5F37AB49B9BA604FFCA0386947"><enum>(C)</enum><text>communication-based train controls;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC99D798A9F5C4B37A7ED84C2DD69EE33"><enum>(4)</enum><text>test wayside detectors that can detect tampering with railroad equipment;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB166955A988A43378D7324BB556BE4D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>support enhanced security for the transportation of hazardous materials by rail, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="HAA1F667024C548FB804C23056BEDF66"><enum>(A)</enum><text>technologies to detect a breach in a tank car and transmit information about the integrity of tank cars to the train crew;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H94D8A3A0301440509FFCEF3339FAA25D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>research to improve tank car integrity; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7052230693924E968D0812AC4F8D7E01"><enum>(C)</enum><text>techniques to transfer hazardous materials from rail cars that are damaged or otherwise represent an unreasonable risk to human life or public safety; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3E25259ACAD44E459D625932876799E1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>other projects recommended in the report required by section 101.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H260831B1BA79412F8701C8FADEFABA2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coordination With Other Research Initiatives</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that the research and development program authorized by this section is coordinated with other research and development initiatives at the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, and other Federal agencies.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HBC8A2C30462B40F989FB5126B143FA00"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization of Appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $50,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to carry out the purposes of this section. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until expended.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H258C4F4262904BA8A16FCC48A1B161C" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header>Rail worker security training program</header>
<subsection id="H7B5FCEE43E45468CABA014D285D1EA8B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with appropriate law enforcement, security, and terrorism experts, representatives of railroad carriers, and nonprofit employee organizations that represent rail workers, shall develop and issue detailed guidance for a rail worker security training program to prepare rail workers for potential threat conditions.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HF6292B7807EB44C8A850376B5D8FA7DB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Program elements</header><text>The guidance developed under subsection (a) shall require such a program to include, at a minimum, elements that address the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H2194378C59344DD6B1006596EF7B7965"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Determination of the seriousness of any occurrence.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC62CFC0A57DF4D64A65244715309053E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Crew and passenger communication and coordination.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H09EC24BEA5EF4B83AA294EEE49BD9ECA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Appropriate responses to defend oneself.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7835F58A4951467BACCD006515ED7411"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Use of protective devices.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2E5B7EFF057F4B99BFB7434A704344C"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Evacuation procedures.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6247B843FDE648CD8D5913DA7E229C47"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Live situational training exercises regarding various threat conditions, including tunnel evacuation procedures.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3A28717342F547B7A9810011925200D0"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Any other subject the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H4772D429974B4AF08BFDB7623375196F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Railroad carrier programs</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the Secretary issues guidance under subsection (a) in final form, each railroad carrier shall develop a rail worker security training program in accordance with that guidance and submit it to the Secretary for approval. Not later than 60 days after receiving a railroad carrier’s program under this subsection, the Secretary shall review the program and approve it or require the railroad carrier to make any revisions the Secretary considers necessary for the program to meet the guidance requirements.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H50DA302BD25E4D18A63888B6D3870006"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Training</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the Secretary approves the training program developed by a railroad carrier under this section, the railroad carrier shall complete the training of all rail workers in accordance with that program.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H99F6E01AC2954FE994E17B8C493E4899"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Updates</header><text>The Secretary shall update the training guidance issued under subsection (a) from time to time to reflect new or different security threats, and require railroad carriers to revise their programs accordingly and provide additional training to their rail workers.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HF66D33A1D8394F2CBBD640A05FBD2723" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>106.</enum><header>Whistleblower protection</header>
<subsection id="H78516AF703D248FCB989149E197B05D2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/49/201">chapter 201</external-xref> of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/49/20115">section 20115</external-xref> the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H09D083ED6E6647B2A3594B44C6B6ED3" style="USC">
<section id="H3481286D137B4DD297DD3234829182A8"><enum>20116.</enum><header>Whistleblower protection for railroad security matters</header></section>
<subsection id="H34E292D88B754FA385AAADD900BD53A1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Discrimination against employee</header><text>No railroad carrier engaged in interstate or foreign commerce may discharge a railroad employee or otherwise discriminate against a railroad employee because the employee (or any person acting pursuant to a request of the employee)—</text>
<paragraph id="H9DA5628EACCF406793D05800EDEA003E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provided, caused to be provided, or is about to provide or cause to be provided, to the employer or the Federal Government information relating to a perceived threat to security;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HDB94A57401904925927D2750418C62D7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provided, caused to be provided, or is about to provide or cause to be provided, testimony before Congress or at any Federal or State proceeding regarding a perceived threat to security;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA00734628FE34D22840025336FD8085C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>has assisted or participated, or is about to assist or participate, in any manner in a proceeding or any other action to enhance railroad security; or</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8AAFF42DFD8140B2BDED35021940B84B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>refused to violate or assist in the violation of any law, rule, or regulation related to railroad security.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HB79043B0AF8C4CC590EC5DEA11E454E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Enforcement action</header>
<paragraph id="H423B09014A6742D8B80012A995007E8F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A person who alleges discharge or other discrimination by any person in violation of subsection (a) may seek relief under subsection (c) by—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFE0163688C5749C6814794B49C2E90C8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>filing a complaint with the Secretary of Labor; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H87C437F7E79C462AA29CAB70F1D2D17"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if the Secretary of Labor has not issued a final decision within 180 days of the filing of the complaint and there is no showing that such delay is due to the bad faith of the claimant, bringing an action at law or equity for de novo review in the appropriate district court of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction over such an action without regard to the amount in controversy.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H551559F006E14CB2A623CE7C4479FD56"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Procedure</header>
<subparagraph id="H75EB1960BDB34F0B8C0333749CBE3657"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An action under paragraph (1)(A) shall be governed under the rules and procedures set forth in section 42121(b) of this title.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H944C329F7426499AA30033D0B76D60A"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>Notification made under section 42121(b)(1) of this title, shall be made to the person named in the complaint and to the employer.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF4E64BC0E7AD4EBDA4F20657D9BDDEA"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Burdens of proof</header><text>An action brought under paragraph (1)(B) shall be governed by the legal burdens of proof set forth in section 42121(b) this title.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H878CE3E65A2C4817A768A7B82FC99A"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Statute of limitations</header><text>An action under paragraph (1)(A) shall be commenced not later than 90 days after the date on which the violation occurs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H0E9451D6A3DD47F6B4692D975C006FD4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Remedies</header>
<paragraph id="HF9314A6146CD4B34B2F0C196DF9E7266"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An employee prevailing in any action under subsection (b)(1) shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee whole.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE7ECA456DD714F50B6005E46D5166FD6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Compensatory damages</header><text>Relief for any action under paragraph (1) shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC53F6D03F2354DCFB4872839632DBEC3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reinstatement with the same seniority status that the employee would have had, but for the discrimination;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB2D09888A18848509570E083FD30C3AE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the amount of back pay, with interest; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7E11452E2661451983D63D343B4063DD"><enum>(C)</enum><text>compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs, expert witness fees, and reasonable attorney fees.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H6423D376998D4B9ABF2E595581B400DD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Rights retained by employee</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (e), nothing in this section shall be deemed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of any employee under any Federal or State law, or under any collective bargaining agreement.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H67483179795044DEB469A5A2E9DE23C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Election of remedies</header><text>An employee of a railroad carrier may not seek protection under both this section and another provision of law for the same allegedly unlawful act of the railroad carrier.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HAF12922D31E441CA9EFB1BF1D1167C58"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Disclosure of identity</header>
<paragraph id="HC97D3106544043C7AD383CDF0392C5DD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), without the written consent of the employee, the Secretary of Labor may not disclose the name of an employee of a railroad carrier who has provided information about an alleged violation of this section.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H20B9AB21A98A448F8BC7C6A46EE3D5DF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>The Secretary of Labor shall disclose to the Attorney General the name of an employee described in paragraph (1) of this subsection if the matter is referred to the Attorney General for enforcement.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="HB9D7E6DE9A8B4B37A6672C2F29A1E895"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/49/201">chapter 201</external-xref> of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/49/20115">section 20115</external-xref> the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="USC" id="HF15C4BB4B6254CC6B241E48BAEA2ED99" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">20116. Whistleblower protection for railroad security matters</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>
<section id="H23B17858FACD469C9D49F3AEB0954E50"><enum>107.</enum><header>Public outreach</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a national plan for public outreach and awareness. Such plan shall be designed to increase awareness of measures that the general public, railroad passengers, and railroad employees can take to increase railroad system security. Such plan shall also provide outreach to railroad carriers and their employees to improve their awareness of available technologies, ongoing research and development efforts, and available Federal funding sources to improve railroad security. Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall implement the plan developed under this section.</text></section>
<section id="HCD122EF6F6EC48E989008594C85BD815"><enum>108.</enum><header>Passenger, baggage, and cargo screening</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HE95DBCCD857D442594D000E4A1D82B26"><enum>(1)</enum><text>analyze the cost and feasibility of requiring security screening for passengers, baggage, and cargo on passenger trains; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0041E8A17E7C49AA98AE34F3008056B3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>report the results of the study, together with any recommendations that the Secretary may have for implementing a rail security screening program to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="HCBE1CCB43F4D4BE0A4465E1614D28BE2"><enum>109.</enum><header>Emergency responder training standards</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue training standards for persons responsible for responding to emergency situations occurring during transportation of hazardous materials by rail, in accordance with existing regulations, to ensure their ability to protect nearby persons, property, or the environment from the effects of accidents involving hazardous materials.</text></section>
<section id="H4A207696C9F14E25AEA0894820499C96"><enum>110.</enum><header>Information for First Responders</header>
<subsection id="H3F132CC4CEF34C8DA384F362CFA48DA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Transportation shall provide grants to Operation Respond Institute for the purpose of—</text>
<paragraph id="H0DF671608482440ABDBC41C9D7779D31"><enum>(1)</enum><text>deploying and expanding the Operation Respond Emergency Information System software;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H403CBB87A924419B97445CF7DF404EB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>developing, implementing, and maintaining a railroad infrastructure mapping program that correlates railroad right-of-way information with highway grid maps and overhead imagery of traffic routes, hazardous materials routes, and commuter rail lines; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA7EA7E18F8E743708CB2C0C9281E6634"><enum>(3)</enum><text>establishing an alert and messaging capability for use during emergencies involving freight and passenger railroads.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H79937A785DA6476EA1D82DAFCE002661"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation to carry out this section $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2005, 2006, and 2007. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until expended.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H8EEDDF3DD1D4404C8157CA04B54CCF50"><enum>111.</enum><header>TSA personnel limitations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Any statutory limitation on the number of employees in the Transportation Security Administration, before or after its transfer to the Department of Homeland Security, does not apply to the extent that any such employees are responsible for implementing the provisions of this title.</text></section>
<section id="H97B94780311D4418823CCCF424EF75D"><enum>112.</enum><header>Rail safety regulations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/49/20103">Section 20103(a)</external-xref> of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>safety</quote> the first place it appears, and inserting <quote>safety, including security</quote>.</text></section>
<section id="HACBF3D6F95B74CA3A72ED862FB0022A" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>113.</enum><header>Rail police officers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/49/28101">Section 28101</external-xref> of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>the rail carrier</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>any rail carrier</quote>.</text></section>
<section id="H9029F6D2BD80489FAFFA6D5F5D2D324E"><enum>114.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">For purposes of this title—</text>
<paragraph id="H5F8721D48EEE44F1BD0082527125E683"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the terms <term>railroad</term> and <term>railroad carrier</term> have the meaning given those terms in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/49/20102">section 20102</external-xref> of title 49, United States Code; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H13871ECFCE6F4965AE94CD00803804A9"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <quote>Secretary</quote> means the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security. </text></paragraph></section>
<enum>II</enum><header>Assistance to Families of Passengers</header>
<section id="H5BF04387E0254A479C379E2FC8756300"><enum>201.</enum><header>Assistance by National Transportation Safety Board to families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents</header>
<subsection id="H911EF65EA3964D7AB867CB3966DA6F38"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter III of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/49/11">chapter 11</external-xref> of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="USC" id="H3EBBEB46225449AAB8DFDEE1A53BCD80">
<section id="HB8FAF3C2ED184EF68CA82EEEBC4E297D"><enum>1138.</enum><header>Assistance to families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents</header>
<subsection id="HEE4DC00216244E7BA1D4680063FEDAC0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>As soon as practicable after being notified of a rail passenger accident within the United States involving a rail passenger carrier and resulting in a major loss of life, the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H27E02C025E8E4794A08518752C240463"><enum>(1)</enum><text>designate and publicize the name and phone number of a director of family support services who shall be an employee of the Board and shall be responsible for acting as a point of contact within the Federal Government for the families of passengers involved in the accident and a liaison between the rail passenger carrier and the families; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9189AC92C1F7405E8201B440832FF66F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>designate an independent nonprofit organization, with experience in disasters and posttrauma communication with families, which shall have primary responsibility for coordinating the emotional care and support of the families of passengers involved in the accident.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HA6AA5F17F9764D0B83B0A7CA6881426"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Responsibilities of the Board</header><text>The Board shall have primary Federal responsibility for—</text>
<paragraph id="HCB23EAB574D14B968B4B4D4E94D771B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>facilitating the recovery and identification of fatally injured passengers involved in an accident described in subsection (a); and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H80D4FAC7625A4E288180E0057E989FD1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>communicating with the families of passengers involved in the accident as to the roles of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7B2BE6E8750D4C6C8769C5BE3CF3E910"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the organization designated for an accident under subsection (a)(2);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H89DF679C114E48AD85D14C7EAD7787E3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Government agencies; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HCD93E69637C64BF2BC5031EC141C9519"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the rail passenger carrier involved,</text></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">with respect to the accident and the post-accident activities.</continuation-text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H03D0006689E5463EA6251D099C97CE7D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Responsibilities of designated organization</header><text>The organization designated for an accident under subsection (a)(2) shall have the following responsibilities with respect to the families of passengers involved in the accident:</text>
<paragraph id="H247B63C9E97B4960BA9EBED473E434A0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>To provide mental health and counseling services, in coordination with the disaster response team of the rail passenger carrier involved.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7B663050F2064B4EAA3FFE2DEFDE71B6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>To take such actions as may be necessary to provide an environment in which the families may grieve in private.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCA570A491CC4402998005109E490FEE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>To meet with the families who have traveled to the location of the accident, to contact the families unable to travel to such location, and to contact all affected families periodically thereafter until such time as the organization, in consultation with the director of family support services designated for the accident under subsection (a)(1), determines that further assistance is no longer needed.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H23786B72286F4BBB9C158177DF52E45E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>To arrange a suitable memorial service, in consultation with the families.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H7BBB20736DC54974A4E63086C5A1B84B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Passenger lists</header>
<paragraph id="HA33E86233FF94F5C98C779405328F92B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requests for passenger lists</header>
<subparagraph id="H75C0793978ED4E3F8F69A506ECB768D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Requests by director of family support services</header><text>It shall be the responsibility of the director of family support services designated for an accident under subsection (a)(1) to request, as soon as practicable, from the rail passenger carrier involved in the accident a list, which is based on the best available information at the time of the request, of the names of the passengers that were aboard the rail passenger carrier’s train involved in the accident. A rail passenger carrier shall use reasonable efforts, with respect to its unreserved trains, and passengers not holding reservations on its other trains, to ascertain the names of passengers aboard a train involved in an accident.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H314B2804D6EF41409F08BA5300C517BC"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requests by designated organization</header><text>The organization designated for an accident under subsection (a)(2) may request from the rail passenger carrier involved in the accident a list described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HAF371E0EF9C840F5BA0028F86201E132"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of information</header><text>The director of family support services and the organization may not release to any person information on a list obtained under paragraph (1) but may provide information on the list about a passenger to the family of the passenger to the extent that the director of family support services or the organization considers appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H5069DD30ADF44DAC90C8C710B1366D59"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Continuing responsibilities of the Board</header><text>In the course of its investigation of an accident described in subsection (a), the Board shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the families of passengers involved in the accident—</text>
<paragraph id="H0A95D21B0FD846B5AC65F03E4FDA961"><enum>(1)</enum><text>are briefed, prior to any public briefing, about the accident and any other findings from the investigation; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBCA1140680B44B9CBB007FB13522409E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>are individually informed of and allowed to attend any public hearings and meetings of the Board about the accident.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H9876FBDAA72C4D9BB9D9EC29D09F032F"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Use of rail passenger carrier resources</header><text>To the extent practicable, the organization designated for an accident under subsection (a)(2) shall coordinate its activities with the rail passenger carrier involved in the accident to facilitate the reasonable use of the resources of the carrier.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H1964A7824051436781D75D82A608DAF4"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Prohibited actions</header>
<paragraph id="HB9D217E46ACF4920A113C17227F99809"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Actions to impede the Board</header><text>No person (including a State or political subdivision) may impede the ability of the Board (including the director of family support services designated for an accident under subsection (a)(1)), or an organization designated for an accident under subsection (a)(2), to carry out its responsibilities under this section or the ability of the families of passengers involved in the accident to have contact with one another.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5EB791F6F38B4AE1BB58FECD4D882FD2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Unsolicited communications</header><text>No unsolicited communication concerning a potential action for personal injury or wrongful death may be made by an attorney (including any associate, agent, employee, or other representative of an attorney) or any potential party to the litigation to an individual (other than an employee of the rail passenger carrier) injured in the accident, or to a relative of an individual involved in the accident, before the 45th day following the date of the accident.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9AA966AB71C24BE0BE4DFC537D5B9472"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Prohibition on actions to prevent mental health and counseling services</header><text>No State or political subdivision may prevent the employees, agents, or volunteers of an organization designated for an accident under subsection (a)(2) from providing mental health and counseling services under subsection (c)(1) in the 30-day period beginning on the date of the accident. The director of family support services designated for the accident under subsection (a)(1) may extend such period for not to exceed an additional 30 days if the director determines that the extension is necessary to meet the needs of the families and if State and local authorities are notified of the determination.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H9ED68753559C45A493CA0046B5D5CD2F"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section, the following definitions apply:</text>
<paragraph id="H013F9CBFAB1E4CB18FB200BC91910095"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Rail passenger accident</header><text>The term <term>rail passenger accident</term> means any rail passenger disaster occurring in the provision of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H55A0855AB7FC473EA6A5F13B145369C4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>interstate intercity rail passenger transportation (as such term is defined in section 24102); or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H13B4F8B019FD44469900135E4F61A73B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>interstate or intrastate high-speed rail (as such term is defined in section 26105) transportation,</text></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">regardless of its cause or suspected cause.</continuation-text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H31A070555ACC49ACBA9958F986603659"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rail passenger carrier</header><text>The term <term>rail passenger carrier</term> means a rail carrier providing—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF6CB319C8CC54BBC89898838E780EED6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>interstate intercity rail passenger transportation (as such term is defined in section 24102); or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HC343AAEAFA9C41D4BAFBB275BEE82C6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>interstate or intrastate high-speed rail (as such term is defined in section 26105) transportation,</text></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">except that such term shall not include a tourist, historic, scenic, or excursion rail carrier.</continuation-text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0BAFBD49440B4D82002FE2CF59E6289B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Passenger</header><text>The term <term>passenger</term> includes—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA77E071F079745088B52DF41B8411926"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an employee of a rail passenger carrier aboard a train;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFD39DC843FE64985A5C9CE34FDA1D58"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any other person aboard the train without regard to whether the person paid for the transportation, occupied a seat, or held a reservation for the rail transportation; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9FFDF08359D5407FB200839EE307F5C8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any other person injured or killed in the accident.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HFA0C4FBF86574CE699D74924E0C900EF"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Limitation on statutory construction</header><text>Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting the actions that a rail passenger carrier may take, or the obligations that a rail passenger carrier may have, in providing assistance to the families of passengers involved in a rail passenger accident.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H50EAA12AC6744B408E95F99346F7602B"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Relinquishment of investigative priority</header>
<paragraph id="H2E1C396445D7444A8052183D4F19482B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>General rule</header><text>This section (other than subsection (g)) shall not apply to a railroad accident if the Board has relinquished investigative priority under section 1131(a)(2)(B) and the Federal agency to which the Board relinquished investigative priority is willing and able to provide assistance to the victims and families of the passengers involved in the accident.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H28317E9B3D6046B2B16FC9292600785B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Board assistance</header><text>If this section does not apply to a railroad accident because the Board has relinquished investigative priority with respect to the accident, the Board shall assist, to the maximum extent possible, the agency to which the Board has relinquished investigative priority in assisting families with respect to the accident.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="H65D4CBD3AE7646B2A0C7388495755CE2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>The table of sections for such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1137 the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="USC" id="H0F411E3F26664FE1A0FE902F06BF17D5">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">1138. Assistance to families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>
<section id="HFD0CD58C957E496B995C83AE12872CEB"><enum>202.</enum><header>Rail passenger carrier plans to address needs of families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents</header>
<subsection id="H9D93CB40ED914EBAB495B105A71115F8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Part C of subtitle V of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:</text>
<quoted-block style="USC" id="HBB81B21EF5604861BFD85B8725DD4024">
<chapter id="H22FA95BBC2E043A2B47419EFE674E9E8"><enum>251</enum><header>Family assistance</header>
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">Sec</toc-entry>
<toc-entry level="section">25101. Plans to address needs of families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents</toc-entry></toc>
<section id="HFB0B8F6559A541DC8F6C000055D2F262"><enum>25101.</enum><header>Plans to address needs of families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents</header>
<subsection id="H9BEC2D6728D748B1B1ABBFAED9C97B27"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Submission of plans</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, each rail passenger carrier shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board a plan for addressing the needs of the families of passengers involved in any rail passenger accident involving a train of the rail passenger carrier and resulting in a major loss of life.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H9C27956C1A224AA3AE406F39FA2781C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents of plans</header><text>A plan to be submitted by a rail passenger carrier under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HE8D350DC74A7465E9682DB58BB3CC720"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A plan for publicizing a reliable, toll-free telephone number, and for providing staff, to handle calls from the families of the passengers.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H85C2D48ACF954C6CB4EFCB8CA66B2B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A process for notifying the families of the passengers, before providing any public notice of the names of the passengers, either by utilizing the services of the organization designated for the accident under section 1138(a)(2) of this title or the services of other suitably trained individuals.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H051C33C1E9F64C37A69734A700DF4F49"><enum>(3)</enum><text>An assurance that the notice described in paragraph (2) will be provided to the family of a passenger as soon as the rail passenger carrier has verified that the passenger was aboard the train (whether or not the names of all of the passengers have been verified) and, to the extent practicable, in person.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3124780BE1F5457DBE7B7C3929091566"><enum>(4)</enum><text>An assurance that the rail passenger carrier will provide to the director of family support services designated for the accident under section 1138(a)(1) of this title, and to the organization designated for the accident under section 1138(a)(2) of this title, immediately upon request, a list (which is based on the best available information at the time of the request) of the names of the passengers aboard the train (whether or not such names have been verified), and will periodically update the list. The plan shall include a procedure, with respect to unreserved trains and passengers not holding reservations on other trains, for the rail passenger carrier to use reasonable efforts to ascertain the names of passengers aboard a train involved in an accident.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB7991379CAA44238854020C3C0931303"><enum>(5)</enum><text>An assurance that the family of each passenger will be consulted about the disposition of all remains and personal effects of the passenger within the control of the rail passenger carrier.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFD878522F810439888C9B0AD55369C37"><enum>(6)</enum><text>An assurance that if requested by the family of a passenger, any possession of the passenger within the control of the rail passenger carrier (regardless of its condition) will be returned to the family unless the possession is needed for the accident investigation or any criminal investigation.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HAD5BC925FEAC4C44B93FB4486FEBDA4"><enum>(7)</enum><text>An assurance that any unclaimed possession of a passenger within the control of the rail passenger carrier will be retained by the rail passenger carrier for at least 18 months.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6DBC915D8BD04D66A0D04DEDBF704201"><enum>(8)</enum><text>An assurance that the family of each passenger or other person killed in the accident will be consulted about construction by the rail passenger carrier of any monument to the passengers, including any inscription on the monument.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBDA6CFF96E424320ABA200E8B786CC55"><enum>(9)</enum><text>An assurance that the treatment of the families of nonrevenue passengers will be the same as the treatment of the families of revenue passengers.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB65CE5C1482F42F595020100107DABB8"><enum>(10)</enum><text>An assurance that the rail passenger carrier will work with any organization designated under section 1138(a)(2) of this title on an ongoing basis to ensure that families of passengers receive an appropriate level of services and assistance following each accident.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H12A175FF58B54E5F84DADDDFE41F400"><enum>(11)</enum><text>An assurance that the rail passenger carrier will provide reasonable compensation to any organization designated under section 1138(a)(2) of this title for services provided by the organization.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7C9573BE70BD472BB91C4EDF31CD15FF"><enum>(12)</enum><text>An assurance that the rail passenger carrier will assist the family of a passenger in traveling to the location of the accident and provide for the physical care of the family while the family is staying at such location.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE69BC3468CF64ED8BEF447B49EE5E0DF"><enum>(13)</enum><text>An assurance that the rail passenger carrier will commit sufficient resources to carry out the plan.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD1450709F4A24139B59E686B51A988BD"><enum>(14)</enum><text>An assurance that the rail passenger carrier will provide adequate training to the employees and agents of the carrier to meet the needs of survivors and family members following an accident.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9C6EBEF4C17D4CE8B98EE53F898F4491"><enum>(15)</enum><text>An assurance that, upon request of the family of a passenger, the rail passenger carrier will inform the family of whether the passenger’s name appeared on any preliminary passenger manifest for the train involved in the accident.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H9D1F7BC88C104AF0859C32FE7974001D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitation on liability</header><text>A rail passenger carrier shall not be liable for damages in any action brought in a Federal or State court arising out of the performance of the rail passenger carrier in preparing or providing a passenger list, or in providing information concerning a train reservation, pursuant to a plan submitted by the rail passenger carrier under subsection (b), unless such liability was caused by conduct of the rail passenger carrier which was grossly negligent or which constituted intentional misconduct.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H42FD7CB5FBD8450CBBCAB595234BC7C8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text>
<paragraph id="H5DD40306495940E1942025B2AEF6DB5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the terms <term>rail passenger accident</term> and <term>rail passenger carrier</term> have the meanings such terms have in section 1138 of this title; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE17B96509AC64E348652C000F3CBEAF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>passenger</term> means a person aboard a rail passenger carrier’s train that is involved in a rail passenger accident.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H85237C2597CB4FA1832E82E60326B469"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Limitation on statutory construction</header><text>Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting the actions that a rail passenger carrier may take, or the obligations that a rail passenger carrier may have, in providing assistance to the families of passengers involved in a rail passenger accident.</text></subsection></section></chapter><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="H935499856B3041BB9B72C31C00CE8949"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>The table of chapters for subtitle V of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 249 the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block style="USC" id="HB3C92DA0C49D4DEEA4F84770D134606B" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<multi-column-toc-entry level="section" bold="on"><toc-enum>251.</toc-enum><level-header level="section">FAMILY ASSISTANCE</level-header><target>25101</target></multi-column-toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>
<section id="HEFB2FCA3CD3A42B88381FBDA18D76C"><enum>203.</enum><header>Establishment of task force</header>
<subsection id="H92468C24DDF8442F91824CB4C3785B8E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the National Transportation Safety Board, organizations potentially designated under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/49/1138">section 1138(a)(2)</external-xref> of title 49, United States Code, rail passenger carriers, and families which have been involved in rail accidents, shall establish a task force consisting of representatives of such entities and families, representatives of passenger rail carrier employees, and representatives of such other entities as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HD12A9693341D4B4B9C52B5ED3386623"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Model plan and recommendations</header><text>The task force established pursuant to subsection (a) shall develop—</text>
<paragraph id="H565901ED88E747829D98634EF6E3C7C3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a model plan to assist passenger rail carriers in responding to passenger rail accidents;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC1D12A74045E4B41A758C516BF6994F6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>recommendations on methods to improve the timeliness of the notification provided by passenger rail carriers to the families of passengers involved in a passenger rail accident;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9EB30D2D6D734363B89EE0A2A3FB5239"><enum>(3)</enum><text>recommendations on methods to ensure that the families of passengers involved in a passenger rail accident who are not citizens of the United States receive appropriate assistance; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB98B405E52954729AA215BB92DB4F66C"><enum>(4)</enum><text>recommendations on methods to ensure that emergency services personnel have as immediate and accurate a count of the number of passengers onboard the train as possible.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HDFACBF065C2B479CB3E8DD704FF4B5FB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing the model plan and recommendations developed by the task force under subsection (b).</text></subsection></section>