Review - HR 5871 Introduced – Train Safety

Last month, Rep Stansbury (D,NM) introduced HR 5871, the Rail Worker and Community Safety Act. The bill includes railroad safety, personnel and federal oversight provisions that are targeted at making railroad (mainly freight railroad) operations safer. Almost all of the provisions specifically require new or amended regulations to be written and implemented.

This bill is different from bills introduced shortly after the East Palestine derailment HR (like S 576 and HR 1674 for example, both removed from paywall) in that it lacks the singular focus on hazardous materials found in those other bills. It is more focused on the nuts and bolts of railroad operations and safety.

Moving Forward

Stansbury is not a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to which this bill was assigned for primary consideration. There are, however, at least three of the 34 Democratic cosponsors {Rep Holmes-Norton (D,DC), Rep Titus (D,NV) and Rep Carson (D,IN)} that are members of the Committee, so there could be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee. Unfortunately, there is widespread, long-term Republican opposition to many of the provisions in the bill that ensures that the Committee will not take up the bill.

 

For more details about the provisions of the bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-5871-introduced - subscription required.

HR 1674 Cosponsor Added – Railway Safety Act

On Tuesday, there were two new cosponsors added for HR 1674, Railway Safety Act of 2023. One of those cosponsors {Rep Ryan (D,NY)} is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This now means that there may be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee.

The bill provides a variety of potential improvements for the shipment of hazardous materials by rail. Various funds are authorized to support some of the program proposed.

There are now eight Republican co-sponsors, so there is an increased likelihood that there would be sufficient bipartisan support for the bill to move forward in Committee.

HR 1674 Added Co-Sponsor – Railway Safety Act

Yesterday, two new co-sponsors were added for HR 1674, the Railway Safety Act. One of the new co-sponsors {Rep Posey (R,FL)} is a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee to which this bill was assigned for secondary consideration. This means that there now may be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in that Committee. There are still no co-sponsors on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to which the bill was assigned for primary consideration. Action would be required by that Committee to move the bill to the full House for consideration.

Review - HR 1674 Introduced – Hazmat Train Safety

Last month Rep Deluzio (D,PA) introduced HR 1674, the Railway Safety Act of 2023. The bill provides a variety of potential improvements for the shipment of hazardous materials by rail. Various funds are authorized to support some of the program proposed. The bill is very similar to S 576 that was introduced the same day as this bill.

This is not technically a companion bill to S 576; there are too many differences in the wording of this bill for it to be a companion bill. There are no significant policy differences between the bills, just changes in language to increase the clarity of the bill’s intent.

Moving Forward

Neither Deluzio nor his sole cosponsor {Rep LaLota (R,NY)} are members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to which the bill was assigned for primary consideration. This means that there is probably not sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee. As with the Senate version, I would expect to see significant Republican opposition to the provisions of the bill because of the increased burdens the bill would put on railroads and hazmat rail shippers. This bill would likely not be recommended favorably out of Committee without significant revisions to the requirements in the bill.

 

For details on the differences between HR 1674 and the Senate bill (S 576), see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-1674-introduced - subscription required.

Bills Introduced – 3-21-23

Yesterday, with the Senate in Washington and the House meeting in pro forma session, there were 60 bills introduced. Five of those bills will receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 1674 To enhance safety requirements for trains transporting hazardous materials, and for other purposes. Deluzio, Christopher R. [Rep.-D-PA-17]

S 885 A bill to establish a Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve in the Department of Homeland Security as a pilot project to address the cybersecurity needs of the United States with respect to national security, and for other purposes. Rosen, Jacky [Sen.-D-NV]

S 896 A bill to authorize Counter-UAS activities on and off commercial service airport property, and for other purposes. Lee, Mike [Sen.-R-UT] 

S 903 A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to carry out a pilot project to establish a Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve, and for other purposes. Rosen, Jacky [Sen.-D-NV]

S 905 A bill to prescribe zoning authority with respect to commercial unmanned aircraft systems and to preserve State, local, and Tribal authorities and private property with respect to unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes. Lee, Mike [Sen.-R-UT]