Reps. Nick LaLota (NY-01) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17), both graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy, introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Railway Safety Act to prevent future train derailment disasters like the one that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio. The Railway Safety Act would take a number of key steps to improve rail safety protocols, such as enhancing safety procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials, establishing requirements for wayside defect detectors, creating a permanent requirement for railroads to operate with at least two-person crews, increasing fines for wrongdoing committed by rail carriers, and more.

 

This legislation is the House companion to S. 576, introduced by Senators. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

 

“What happened in East Palestine is nothing short of a tragedy, an environmental disaster, and it needs a bipartisan solution. We need to assure Americans that their Congress is actively working to ensure that this doesn’t happen anywhere else, whether it be Long Island or Western Pennsylvania,” said LaLota. “Improving rail safety regulations to protect communities and rail workers will help prevent future disasters, like what happened in East Palestine, and ensure the safety of New Yorkers and anyone living close to railways. I am thankful for the Senate’s leadership on this issue and for Congressman Deluzio’s partnership to deliver real results to keep Americans safe.”

 

To read the full text of this legislation, click HERE.

 

Background:

 

In addition to introducing the Railroad Safety Act, LaLota is also a cosponsor of the bipartisan Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act, introduced by Reps. Bill Johnson (OH-06) and Emilia Sykes (OH-13).

 

The bipartisan and bicameral Railroad Safety Act would enhance safety procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials by including new safety requirements and procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials, requiring rail carriers to provide advance notification and information to state emergency response officials about what they are transporting, creating new requirements to prevent block railroad crossings, and mitigating derailment risk with rules for train size and weight.

 

The bill would reduce the risk of wheel bearing failures by establishing requirements for quayside defect detectors, require trains carrying hazardous materials to be scanned by hotbox detectors every ten miles, and strengthen inspection requirements for rails cars of trains carrying hazardous materials.

 

The bill would also require well-trained two-person crews aboard every train, force rail carriers to face heightened fines for wrongdoing by increasing the maximum fines for safety violations, and support communities impacted by rail disasters by expanding HAZMAT training grants for local law enforcement and first responders through increased registration fees paid by Class 1 railroads.

 

Finally, the bill would invest in future safety improvements by providing $22 million for the Federal Railroad Administration for research and development grants regarding wayside defect detectors and provide $5 million for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for expenses related to developing stronger tank car safety features.