[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4790 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4790
To establish a State rail formula grant program, to direct Federal
Railroad Administration to create a Green Railroads Fund, to expand
passenger rail programs, to address air quality concerns, to establish
rail workforce training centers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 29, 2025
Mr. Deluzio (for himself, Mrs. McIver, and Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a State rail formula grant program, to direct Federal
Railroad Administration to create a Green Railroads Fund, to expand
passenger rail programs, to address air quality concerns, to establish
rail workforce training centers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``All Aboard Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the
Federal Railroad Administration.
(2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration.
(3) Amtrak.--The term ``Amtrak'' means the National
Railroad Passenger Corporation.
(4) Electrification infrastructure.--The term
``electrification infrastructure''--
(A) means overhead wire in-motion charging
technology and any associated infrastructure necessary
for the operation to propel a locomotive or train; and
(B) includes battery electric technology that
propels a locomotive or train in railyards and other
environments in which catenary infrastructure is
difficult to deploy as determined by the Secretary.
(5) Environmental justice community.--The term
``environmental justice community'' means a community with
significant representation of individuals of color, low-income
individuals, or Tribal and Indigenous individuals, that
experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or more
adverse human health or environmental effects.
(6) Federal-state intercity partnership program.--The term
``Federal-State Intercity Partnership program'' means the grant
program developed and implemented by the Secretary pursuant to
section 24911(b) of title 49, United States Code.
(7) High-performance rail service.--The term ``high-
performance rail service'' means an intercity passenger rail
service that is designed to meet the current and future market
demand for the transportation of people and goods, in terms of
capacity, travel times, reliability, and efficiency.
(8) Locomotive.--The term ``locomotive'' has the meaning
given that term in section 1033.901 of title 40, Code of
Federal Regulations.
(9) MU locomotive.--The term ``MU locomotive'', with
respect to electric multiple unit and battery-electric multiple
unit trains, has the meaning given that term in section 229.5
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
(10) Partnership applicant.--The term ``partnership
applicant'' has the meaning given that term ``applicant'' in
section 24911 of title 49, United States Code.
(11) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(12) State.--The term ``State'' means a State of the United
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, the
Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, or the Republic of Palau.
(13) Train.--The term ``train'' has the meaning given that
term in section 221.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
(14) Zero-emission locomotive.--The term ``zero-emission
locomotive'' means a locomotive that does not emit any criteria
pollutant, toxic pollutant, or greenhouse gas from any onboard
source of power at any power setting, including any propulsion
power that is connected to and moves with the locomotive when
it is in motion.
SEC. 3. STATE RAIL FORMULA FUNDING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a formula grant
program under which the Secretary shall award grants to States for the
development of State rail plans, operations of rail service, and
maintenance and expansion of rail infrastructure.
(b) Report Required.--Each State that receives a grant under this
section shall submit to the Secretary a report describing how the State
rail plan and activities--
(1) include a strategy--
(A) to expand passenger rail service, particularly
high-performance rail service, including new routes,
existing routes identified by the department of
transportation of the State, and routes selected under
the Corridor Identification and Development Program
established under section 25101 of title 49, United
States Code; and
(B) to electrify existing freight and passenger
rail; and
(2) will demonstrate progress towards the goals described
in subsection (c).
(c) Goals.--The goals described in this subsection are--
(1) to support the goal of achieving zero-emission
locomotives by 2047;
(2) to guarantee the national rail network has the capacity
to serve a significant portion of freight and passenger
movement along the current and projected highest trafficked
intercity corridors by 2050;
(3) to achieve zero emissions for--
(A) 50 percent of all trains by 2030;
(B) all new trains by 2035; and
(C) all locomotives by 2047;
(4) to reconnect communities divided by railroads through
infrastructure improvements that expand freight and passenger
rail capacity;
(5) to protect the safety and health of rail workers and
nearby communities;
(6) to ensure current and future rail infrastructure is
climate resilient;
(7) to realize high-quality service that is trip-time
competitive with other intercity travel options; and
(8) to facilitate a viable mode shift from short-haul
flights to passenger rail between targeted city pairs.
(d) Use of Funds.--A State awarded a grant under this section may
use funds from such grant to advance rail planning and operations by--
(1) hiring and retaining staff;
(2) pooling funds with other States to advance interstate
initiatives and projects;
(3) making improvements to existing rail infrastructure;
(4) constructing new rail infrastructure;
(5) carrying out such other rail activities as the
Secretary determines appropriate, including studying the
impacts on freight rail operations and ridership and operations
coordination;
(6) operating intercity passenger rail service; and
(7) preparing applications for competitive Federal grant
programs.
(e) Formula.--In allocating grant funds among the States, the
Administrator shall--
(1) ensure that each State receives not less than
$5,000,000, annually over a 5-year period; and
(2) determine a method of apportionment that fairly
distributes funds based on the existing and future demand for
rail service in a State.
(f) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator, in coordination with
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary
of Energy, Amtrak, and the Administrator of the Federal Transit
Administration, shall provide technical assistance to States and
communities to assist with the development of State rail plans.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary $3,500,000,000 for the 5-year period
beginning on October 1, 2025, to provide grants under this section.
SEC. 4. GREEN RAILROADS FUND.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, may award
competitive grants to eligible entities described in subsection (c) to
enable or improve electrified rail operations.
(b) Application.--
(1) In general.--To apply for a grant under this section an
eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary in
such manner as the Secretary may reasonably require.
(2) Requirements.--Each application submitted in accordance
with paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) a plan for robust engagement that details a
public notice process that requires--
(i) notification online and in relevant
print sources written in languages used within
the area reasonably affected by the proposed
grant;
(ii) opportunities for public meetings and
comment; and
(iii) other information relevant to the
project to be made publicly available;
(B) a plan that details how--
(i) the project will safeguard or improve
the local environment and public health; and
(ii) environmental and public health
stressors will be monitored and minimized
during the project;
(C) a description of wage and apprenticeship
requirements for individuals employed to construct,
operate, and maintain rail electrification
infrastructure; and
(D) a transition plan that examines the impact of
the proposed project on the workforce of the eligible
entity, including--
(i) identifying skills gaps, training
needs, and retraining needs of the workforce;
(ii) a plan to operate and maintain
infrastructure of the project using existing
insourced workforce;
(iii) a plan to avoid displacement of the
workforce and to transition any displaced
workers to new jobs created by the project;
(iv) identifying the steps the eligible
entity will take to offset any identified
negative impact or potential displacement of
the workforce, including how the entity will
use the funds from the grant and its own
funding to implement the transition plan; and
(v) a description of how the eligible
entity will work with any organizations
representing the workforce to implement the
transition plan.
(c) Eligible Entities.--An eligible entity described in this
subsection is any of the following:
(1) A State.
(2) A group of States.
(3) An interstate compact.
(4) A public agency or a publicly chartered authority
established by one or more States.
(5) A political subdivision of a State.
(6) Amtrak or any other rail carrier that provides
intercity rail passenger transportation.
(7) A class I railroad in partnership with at least 1 of
the entities described in paragraphs (1) through (5).
(8) A class II or III railroad.
(9) A Federally recognized Indian Tribe.
(10) A rail equipment manufacturer in partnership with at
least 1 of the entities described in paragraphs (1) through
(5).
(11) A public utility.
(12) A nonprofit labor organization representing a class or
craft of employees of rail carriers or rail carrier
contractors.
(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity awarded a grant under this
section may use funds from such grant--
(1) to purchase railroad lines and right of way from other
railroads that host Amtrak or other intercity passenger rail
transportation for new electrification infrastructure;
(2) to rebuild or improve existing locomotives, trains, or
MU locomotives to enable such trains and locomotives to use
electrification infrastructure;
(3) to install or improve existing rail electrification
infrastructure;
(4) to build new rail corridors with electrification
infrastructure;
(5) to update rail yards by adding electrification
infrastructure;
(6) to lease or acquire an easement along a right of way
for electrification infrastructure;
(7) to purchase or lease electric locomotives, MU
locomotives, and trains or rolling stock;
(8) to ensure new electrification infrastructure is climate
resilient;
(9) to engage in robust engagement with communities; and
(10) for workforce development and training to support the
maintenance, deployment, and operation of electric locomotives,
MU locomotives, and trains.
(e) Labor Requirements.--
(1) In general.--A project funded by a grant awarded under
this section shall--
(A) use project labor agreements;
(B) use enforceable agreements to hire from local
communities; and
(C) for any freight train or light engine used in
connection with the movement of freight, require a crew
consisting of at least 2 individuals, one of whom is
certified under regulations promulgated by the
Administration as a locomotive engineer pursuant to
section 20135 of title 49, United States Code, and the
other of whom is certified under regulations
promulgated by the Administration as a conductor
pursuant to section 20163 of title 49, United States
Code.
(f) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to projects that will--
(1) reduce air pollution in environmental justice
communities; and
(2) expand high performance passenger rail.
(g) Benefits for Other Programs.--An eligible entity that receives
a grant under this section and is eligible for other rail grant
programs described by this Act shall receive priority for additional
funding under such programs for rail electrification infrastructure
projects. Entities awarded grants under other programs in this Act may
be awarded a grant under this section when applicable.
(h) Study on Transmission Co-Location With Rail Electrification
Infrastructure.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with
the Administrator, and in consultation with the Department of
Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and any other
agency deemed relevant by the Secretary and the Administrator,
shall conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility, benefits,
equity impacts, and challenges of co-locating electric
transmission infrastructure within the same right-of-way or
adjacent to rail corridors as part of efforts to minimize land
use, streamline permitting processes, support rail
electrification, expand renewable energy capacity, reduce
community impacts of new infrastructure, improve safety, and
ensure fair access to infrastructure benefits for all
communities.
(2) Outcomes and recommendations.--
(A) Interagency task force.--In carrying out the
study required under paragraph (1), the Secretary may
recommend the establishment of an interagency task
force to facilitate ongoing coordination among Federal,
state, and local, and private entities to advance
projects involving transmission and rail
electrification infrastructure.
(B) Designated priority corridors.--In carrying out
the study required under paragraph (1), the Secretary
may--
(i) propose a framework to designate
priority corridors for co-located transmission
and rail electrification projects; and
(ii) recommend how such projects should be
incentivized.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary $50,000,000,000 for the 5-year period
beginning on October 1, 2025, to provide grants under this section.
SEC. 5. EXPANSION OF PASSENGER RAIL AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE RAIL.
(a) Federal-State Intercity Partnership Program.--
(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary for the Federal-State
Intercity Partnership program $80,000,000,000 for the 5-year
period beginning on October 1, 2025.
(2) Priority high-performance rail.--Section 24911(d) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as
paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively; and
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as
redesignated, the following:
``(1) the Secretary shall give priority to projects that
install or upgrade infrastructure that will enable high-
performance passenger rail along new or existing rail corridors
regardless of the location of such projects within the United
States;''.
(3) Cost benefit analysis.--Section 24911(d)(3)(B)(i) of
title 49, United States Code, as redesignated, is amended--
(A) in subclause (IV), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a se