HR 2999 Introduced – Hazardous Train Event

Last month, Rep Deluzio (D,PA) introduced HR 2999, 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’ declared by FRA. The monies for the fund would come from a levy on hazardous materials rail shippers and railroads. No other funding is authorized.

This is a companion bill (identical language) to S 844 [removed from paywall] that was introduced earlier last month by Sen Casey (D,PA). No action has been taken in the Senate on that bill.

Moving Forward

Neither Deluzio, nor his sole cosponsor {Rep Fitzpatrick (R,PA)} are members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there is probably not enough influence to see this bill considered in Committee. The shipper and railroad fees to support the Fund will ensure that railroads and chemical manufacturers will oppose this bill. If the bill were considered in Committee, it may pass along partisan lines, but it will not have enough support to be considered by the full Senate.

Review - S 844 Introduced – Hazardous Train Event

Last month, Sen Casey (D,PA) introduced S 844, 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’ declared by FRA. 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).

Moving Forward

Casey is not a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration, nor are his two cosponsors. This means that it is unlikely that there will be enough influence to see this considered in Committee. The shipper and railroad fees to support the Fund will ensure that railroads and chemical manufacturers will oppose this bill. If the bill were considered in Committee, it may pass along partisan lines, but it will not have enough support to be considered by the full Senate.

 

For more details about the provisions of the bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/s-844-introduced - subscription required. 

Bills Introduced – 3-16-23

Yesterday, with just the Senate in session, there were 49 bills introduced. Three of those bills may received additional coverage in this blog 

S 834 A bill to amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to reauthorize the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority, and for other purposes. Bennet, Michael F. [Sen.-D-CO]

S 844 A bill to authorize the declaration of a hazardous train event, and for other purposes. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [Sen.-D-PA]

S 870 A bill to amend the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for the United States Fire Administration and firefighter assistance grant programs. Peters, Gary C. [Sen.-D-MI]

I will be covering S 844.

I will be watching S 834 for language and definitions that would specifically include agricultural cybersecurity research efforts within the scope of the reauthorization. I am not, however, going to hold my breath.

Considering that the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has already considered and recommended S 559, a reauthorization for the US Fire Administration, it is odd that Peters (who is the Chair of that committee) would introduced a new bill, S 870, on the same topic. So, I will be watching this bill to see what is going on, but I am not sure that it will be anything worth mentioning here.