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S. 576 118th Congress Senate

Railway Safety Act of 2023

Official title: A bill to enhance safety requirements for trains transporting hazardous materials, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 10, 2023 See on congress.gov
Transportation and Public Works AccidentsAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAppropriationsCivil actions and liability
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Department of TransportationFirst responders and emergency personnelHazardous wastes and toxic substancesInfrastructure developmentRailroadsResearch and developmentState and local government operationsTransportation programs fundingTransportation safety and securityUser charges and fees
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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 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 13, 2023
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 284.
Dec 13, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
May 10, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Mar 16, 2023
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-361.
Mar 1, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 1, 2023
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action December 13, 2023

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 284.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Railway Safety Act of 2023

This bill addresses safety requirements for rail carriers and trains transporting hazardous materials.

Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must issue safety regulations for trains carrying hazardous materials to require that rail carriers or shippers (1) provide state emergency response commissioners with advanced notice and information about the hazardous materials; (2) reduce blocked rail crossings; and (3) comply with certain requirements regarding train length and weight specifications, track standards, speed restrictions, and response plans.

DOT must also establish requirements for wayside defect detectors. These are used by railway systems alongside the tracks to detect defects and failures (e.g., wheel bearing failures). Current federal regulations do not require their use, but federal guidance does address their placement and use. Under the bill, DOT must issue regulations establishing requirements for the installation, repair, testing, maintenance, and operation of wayside defect detectors for each rail carrier operating a train carrying hazardous materials.

The bill also

  • increases the maximum fines DOT may impose on rail carriers for violating safety regulations,
  • requires DOT to update rail car inspection regulations and audit the federal inspection program,
  • requires a minimum two-person crew for certain freight trains,
  • phases out certain railroad tank cars by May 1, 2025 (four years sooner than required under current law),
  • expands training for local first responders,
  • imposes a new fee on certain rail carriers, and
  • provides funding for research and development to improve railway safety.
 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 8996 Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024
  • HR 1674 Railway Safety Act of 2023
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Lobbying activity 47

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

  • CELANESE CORPORATION
    for CELANESE CORPORATION · Texas · 3rd Quarter 2026 (July 1 - Sep 30)
  • POTOMAC PARTNERS DC
    for GALVESTON WHARVES · Texas · 3rd Quarter 2026 (July 1 - Sep 30)
  • NATIONAL PROPANE GAS ASSOCIATION
    for NATIONAL PROPANE GAS ASSOCIATION · District of Columbia · 3rd Quarter 2026 (July 1 - Sep 30)
  • POTOMAC PARTNERS DC
    for SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY · California · 3rd Quarter 2026 (July 1 - Sep 30)
  • POTOMAC PARTNERS DC
    for SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY · California · 3rd Quarter 2026 (July 1 - Sep 30)
  • CELANESE CORPORATION
    for CELANESE CORPORATION · Texas · 2nd Quarter 2026 (Apr 1 - June 30)

Bodies those filers lobbied

A filing lists the bills it worked on and the parts of government it contacted in separate sections, so these are the bodies those filers named anywhere in the filing, not a per-bill breakdown.

See all 47 filings →
 Cosponsors 6
All 6 Democratic 4 Republican 2
D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · May 10, 2023
 R
Marshall, Roger
Kansas · May 9, 2023
 D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Apr 19, 2023
 D
Smith, Tina
Minnesota · Mar 30, 2023
 D
Fetterman, John
Pennsylvania · Mar 1, 2023
 R
Hawley, Josh
Missouri · Mar 1, 2023
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 576: Railway Safety Act of 2023. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-576/
MLA
"S. 576: Railway Safety Act of 2023." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-576/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 576, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-576/.
Markdown link
[S. 576: Railway Safety Act of 2023](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-576/)
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