HR 5135 Introduced – Nullify Train Crew Size Rule

Earlier this month Rep Burlison (R,MO) introduced HR 5135, the Train Crew Choice Act. The short bill would nullify the “final rule published in the Federal Register on April 9, 2024 by the Federal Railroad Administration titled ‘Train Crew Size Safety Requirements’” (89 FR 25052).That rule generally requires railroads operate trains with a minimum of two crew members on the train; it also provides a series of accepted exceptions (with conditions), and provides a process for requesting other exemptions from the two-man requirement. No New funding is provided by this legislation.

Moving Forward

Both Burlison and his sole cosponsor {Rouzer (R,NC)} are members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there could be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee. I suspect that support for the bill will come mainly from Republicans, as it would fit with their general deregulatory agenda. I would expect this bill to pass in Committee on a near party-line vote. That would mean that the bill would not be able to move to the floor under the suspension of the rules process. It is not clear if this bill would be of sufficient concern to House leadership to move to the floor under regular order.