Review – HR 853 Introduced – Hazardous Train Event

Back in January Rep Deluzio (D,PA) introduced HR 853, the Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act. The bill would establish the Hazardous Train Event Emergency Reimbursement Fund which would provide funds to emergency response personnel in the event of a newly defined ‘Hazardous Train Event’. The monies for the fund would come from a levy on hazardous materials rail shippers and railroads. No other funding is authorized.

The bill would add a new §20904, Hazardous Train Events, to 49 USC. It would also amend 49 USC §5108(g).

The bill is essentially identical to HR 2999 introduced by Deluzio in April, 2024. No action was taken on the legislation in the 118^th Congress.

Moving Forward

Deluzio is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there may be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee. The shipper and railroad fees to support the Fund will ensure that railroads and chemical manufacturers will oppose this bill, so there is likely to be significant Republican opposition to this bill. This mean that there is very little chance that this bill will be considered in Committee and even less chance that the legislation would be taken up by the full House.

 

For more information on the provisions of this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-853-introduced - subscription required.

Review – Bills Introduced – 1-31-25

Yesterday, with the House meeting in pro forma session and the Senate taking a break, there were 93 bills introduced. Four of those bills will receive additional coverage in this newsletter:

HR 853 To authorize the declaration of a hazardous train event, and for other purposes. Deluzio, Christopher R. [Rep.-D-PA-17]

HR 854 To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue certain regulations to define high-hazard flammable train, and for other purposes. Deluzio, Christopher R. [Rep.-D-PA-17]

HR 866 To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, to conduct a study of the national security risks posed by consumer routers, modems, and devices that combine a modem and router, and for other purposes. Latta, Robert E. [Rep.-R-OH-5]

HR 872 To require covered contractors implement a vulnerability disclosure policy consistent with NIST guidelines, and for other purposes. Mace, Nancy [Rep.-R-SC-1]

 

For more information on these bills, and a brief history of similar bills in the 118^th Congress, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/bills-introduced-1-31-25 - subscription required.