H.R. 1633: RAIL Act

118th Congress · introduced 2023-03-17 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mrs. Sykes asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1633, a bill originally introduced by Representative Johnson (OH), for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2023-03-17 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mrs. Sykes asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1633, a bill originally introduced by Representative Johnson (OH), for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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

RAIL Act

Plain summary

Reducing Accidents In Locomotives Act or the RAIL Act 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 (1) provide state emergency response commissioners with advance 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. Further, these regulations must establish requirements that safety placards be able to withstand heat in excess of 180 degrees. 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, phases out certain railroad tank cars by May 1, 2028 (one year sooner than required under current law), expands training for local first responders, and imposes a new fee on certain rail carriers.

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

What a vote does

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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.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

RAIL Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6] · 15 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Emilia Strong Sykes (D-OH), Max L. Miller (R-OH), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Mike Carey (R-OH), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), David P. Joyce (R-OH), Shontel M. Brown (D-OH), Michael R. Turner (R-OH), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)

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 (2)

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).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-118hr1633.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/118/hr>

Record fed-us-cong118-hr1633 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong118 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong118