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H.R. 3698: D-BLOC Act

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H.R. 3698: D-BLOC Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-06-04 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-06-04 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

D-BLOC Act

Plain summary

Don't BLock Our Communities Act or the D-BLOC Act This bill prohibits railroad carriers from obstructing travel at public highway-rail crossings for more than 10 minutes, except under limited circumstances (e.g., safety issues). The Department of Transportation (DOT) must investigate and send notices to carriers of repeated incidents; carriers are subject to civil penalties for violations that occur after having received notice. DOT must also establish a national database for the public to report such incidents.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5] · 4 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr3698 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117