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S 1044 118th Congress Senate Transportation and Public Works Congressional oversight Emergency communications systems Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Railroads Transportation safety and security

Railway Accountability Act

Introduced: March 29, 2023 Introduced by: Fetterman, John Democratic · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 29, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 29, 2023
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Railway Accountability Act

This bill addresses safety requirements for rail carriers.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) must review existing regulations relating to the practices regarding the establishment of a train consist (i.e., the contents and location of each rail car in a train). The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) must issue regulations requiring each railroad to submit an updated Risk Reduction Program Plan that (1) documents the railroad's standards for train consist and safety protocol for trains in the switchyard, and (2) strives to balance derailment risk and rail yard employee safety.

DOT must issue a regulation that prohibits conducting train brake inspections while a train is in motion and requires the mechanical inspector assigned to inspect a locomotive or rail car to be the official who signs off on the inspection.

The FRA must amend regulations to require (1) more frequent communication checks between a head-of-train device and an end-of-train device, and (2) repetition of the emergency brake signal transmission until it is received by the end-of-train device.

Class I railroads must join the Confidential Close Call Reporting System if they have been ordered to pay the maximum civil penalty for specific rail safety regulation violations.

Further, the FRA must (1) study and submit a report to Congress on broken rim derailments and proposed regulations to reduce the frequency; and (2) post on the FRA public website a list of specific active Class I railroad safety waivers, including those relating to brake procedures and brake inspection requirements.

What's happening now March 29, 2023

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 6

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

  • POTOMAC PARTNERS DC
    for SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY · California · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2026
  • POTOMAC PARTNERS DC
    for SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY · California · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026
  • POTOMAC PARTNERS DC
    for SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY · California · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2025
  • POTOMAC PARTNERS DC
    for SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY · California · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2025
  • POTOMAC PARTNERS DC
    for SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY · California · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2025
  • POTOMAC PARTNERS DC
    for SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY · California · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2025
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Jul 19, 2023
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1044: Railway Accountability Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-1044/
MLA
"S. 1044: Railway Accountability Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-1044/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1044, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-1044/.
Markdown link
[S. 1044: Railway Accountability Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-1044/)
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