[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7237 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7237

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program 
     to construct barriers near rail lines that are adjacent to a 
             residential structure, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 5, 2024

  Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
             Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program 
     to construct barriers near rail lines that are adjacent to a 
             residential structure, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Homes from Trains Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM TO CONSTRUCT BARRIERS NEAR RAIL LINES ADJACENT TO 
              A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
establish a program to provide grants to eligible recipients to design 
or construct a barrier to mitigate rail activity that may negatively 
impact a residential structure or its use, including--
            (1) damage caused by a train derailment;
            (2) noise caused by a train; and
            (3) vibrations caused by a train.
    (b) Use of Funds.--A grant provided under this section may be used 
to design or construct a barrier located--
            (1) adjacent to a rail line; and
            (2) between the rail line and any residential area that--
                    (A) includes structures; and
                    (B) is affected, or potentially affected, by any 
                rail activity described in subsection (a).
    (c) Eligible Recipients.--The Secretary may make a grant under the 
program established in subsection (a) to the following:
            (1) A State.
            (2) A group of States.
            (3) An Interstate Compact.
            (4) A public agency or publicly chartered authority 
        established by one or more States.
            (5) A political subdivision of a State.
            (6) Amtrak or another rail carrier that provides intercity 
        rail passenger transportation.
            (7) A Class II railroad or Class III railroad or a holding 
        company of a Class II or Class III railroad, or an association 
        representing a Class II or III railroad.
            (8) Any rail carrier in partnership with one or more 
        entities described in paragraphs (1) through (5).
    (d) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under the program 
established in subsection (a), an entity described in subsection (c) 
shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such 
time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines 
appropriate.
    (e) State Defined.--In this section, the term ``State'' means each 
of the several States, the District of Columbia, and each commonwealth, 
territory, or possession of the United States.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the program established in subsection (a) 
$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
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