United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 6 D · 2 R cosponsors

HR 971 — RAIL Act

Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 04, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 8 sponsors

    1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (6 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Reducing Accidents In Locomotives Act or the RAIL ActThis 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 alsoincreases 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; andimposes a new fee on certain rail carriers.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing law to enhance safety requirements for trains transporting hazardous materials and establishes new regulations for inspections and defect detectors.

  • 49 U.S.C. § 201

    Sec. 20172. Time available for inspection (a) In General.--No railroad may limit the time required for an employee to complete a railcar, locomotive, or brake inspection to ensure that each railcar, locomotive, and brake system complies with safety laws and regulations. (b) Requirement.--Employees shall perform their inspection duties promptly and shall not delay other than for reasons related to safety.

    Establishes a new provision ensuring that railroads cannot limit inspection time for employees.

  • 49 U.S.C. § 201

    The analysis for subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: "20172. Time available for inspection."

    Adds a new section to the legislative analysis that explicitly references the time available for inspection.

  • 49 U.S.C. § 215

    Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall amend the pre-departure inspection requirements for Class I railroads under part 215 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as written on such date of enactment)...

    Mandates the Secretary to amend pre-departure inspection requirements for Class I railroads to ensure designated inspectors are available.

  • 49 U.S.C. § 229

    Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review and amend, as necessary, regulations under chapters 229 and 243 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations...

    Requires a review and potential amendment of locomotive inspection regulations for employee training and inspection frequency.

  • The Secretary shall publish an annual report on the public website of the Federal Railroad Administration that summarizes the findings of the audits conducted...

    Establishes a requirement for the Secretary to publish an annual report summarizing audit findings related to railcar and locomotive inspections.

  • Nothing in this section may be construed to provide the Secretary with any authority to interpret, revise, alter, or apply a collectively bargained agreement...

    Clarifies the limitation of the Secretary's authority over collective bargaining agreements in relation to the audits and inspections.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

  4. Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 539 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (539)

539 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 539 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety transportation
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 971 do?
Reducing Accidents In Locomotives Act or the RAIL ActThis 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 alsoincreases 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; andimposes a new fee on certain rail carriers.
Who sponsors HR 971?
HR 971 is sponsored by Sykes, Emilia Strong (Democratic), Rulli, Michael A. (Republican), Beatty, Joyce (Democratic), Brown, Shontel M. (Democratic), Kaptur, Marcy (Democratic), Landsman, Greg (Democratic), Miller, Max L. (Republican), and Elfreth, Sarah (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 971?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 04, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HR 971?
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