Legislation introduced aiming at enhancing US railroad safety

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, and Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA-06) introduced the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024. This legislation incorporates the Railway Safety Act of 2023, introduced by Senators J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and includes four significant safety provisions aimed at increasing the safety of the nation’s rail network.

“As Chairman of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials subcommittee, I am proud to introduce the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024,” said Chairman Nehls. “This bipartisan legislation will help modernize our nation’s rail network and invest in crucial programs that will enhance our rail network’s safety. I applaud my Republican Senate colleague, Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Senator J.D. Vance for introducing the Railway Safety Act of 2023, which is a core component of this legislation. Thank you to my colleague, Representative Seth Moulton, for working with me on this legislation, and I look forward to working with all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this legislation across the finish line.”

“The East Palestine disaster was a national wake-up call: Congress must finally take action to make our freight rail system safer,” said Congressman Moulton. “For too long, the Class 1 railroads have prioritized profits over all else. It’s time for that to end. This bill is a true bipartisan and bicameral effort, and it has the backing of key unions. Freight rail is the most efficient and safest way to transport goods across our country, and it provides over 160,000 American jobs, but these improvements are overdue. This bill would ensure that this $80 billion industry operates more safely and efficiently for years to come.”

The legislation is originally cosponsored by Congressman Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Congressman Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY-04), Congresswoman Emilia Sykes (D-OH-13), Congressman Michael Rulli (R-OH-06), Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (D-MN-01), and Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY-17).

“Some of the country's most critical freight rail lines run directly through the Third District, so I am acutely aware of the daily role freight rail plays in the lives of communities near a track,” said Congressman Van Orden. “Just last year we had a train derailment in De Soto, Wisconsin that saw train cars floating down the Mississippi River. My constituents should not live in fear of materials being transported on rail because railroads are cutting corners on safety. That is why I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to strengthen safety requirements for all trains carrying hazardous materials and provide essential funding for emergency response and preparedness to empower local and state agencies to respond effectively to any future potential incidents.”

“My constituents in Beaver County and our neighbors in Ohio had their lives turned upside-down by last year’s toxic train derailment—they want accountability and action, and so do I,” said Congressman Deluzio. “That’s why I’ve been pushing in Congress to pass my bill to make freight rail safer, the Railway Safety Act. I'm proud to join my colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Railway Safety Enhancement Act. Building off the Railway Safety Act, this bill offers the momentum we need and when passed into law will be a powerful step to make freight rail safer and protect communities like ours.”

“I’m proud to join Congressman Troy Nehls & Congressman Seth Moulton in co-sponsoring their bipartisan legislation, the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024,” said Congressman D’Esposito. “This crucial piece of legislation will implement much-needed reforms to ensure that tragic disasters like the East Palestine derailment don’t happen again."

“Ohioans from across the political spectrum have consistently called for legislation to prevent train derailments in our communities since last year's tragic accident in East Palestine,” said Congresswoman Sykes.

“I am proud to cosponsor the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024 with Congressman Nehls,” said Congressman Rulli.

"Catastrophic derailments are impacting communities across the U.S., including an explosive derailment in New Mexico," said Congresswoman Stansbury.

“Last year’s brushfires along CSX line underscored why railroad safety is so important,” said Congressman Lawler.

Cosponsors include Congressman Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV-01), among others.

The Railroad Safety Enhancement Act consists of several key provisions:

C3RS Requirement:

Requires all Class 1 railroads and Amtrak enroll in NASA's Confidential Close Call Reporting System (“C3RS”) for two years.

ASKRAIL:

Mandates first responders be informed about ASKRAIL app use; authorizes $25 million annually for connectivity improvements via competitive bidding.

Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program:

Authorizes an additional $1 billion beyond IIJA funding for eliminating dangerous railroad crossings.

Telematics Grant Program:

Allocates $100 million annually for onboard telematics systems installation on new freight cars; prioritizes tank cars carrying hazardous materials.

Telematic Pilot Program:

Provides $10 million annually for developing advanced onboard sensors offering real-time visibility into various operational metrics.