[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7338 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7338
To amend title 49, United States Code, to codify the Railroad Safety
Advisory Committee, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 3, 2026
Mrs. Sykes introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to codify the Railroad Safety
Advisory Committee, 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 ``Railroad Safety and Accountability
Act''.
SEC. 2. CODIFICATION OF THE RAILROAD SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 201 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 20122. Railroad Safety Advisory Committee
``(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Railroad
Administration shall maintain an advisory committee, to be known as the
`Railroad Safety Advisory Committee', for the purpose of providing
advice and recommendations to the Administrator regarding the
development of railroad safety regulatory programs, including the
issuance of new regulations, review and revision of existing
regulations, and identification of non-regulatory alternatives for
improving railroad safety.
``(b) Duties.--The Railroad Safety Advisory Committee shall have
the following responsibilities:
``(1) To provide a forum for collaborative rulemaking and
regulatory program development with respect to railroad safety.
``(2) To develop, through collaborative processes involving
all segments of the railroad community, regulatory standards
and mutually satisfactory solutions on railroad safety
regulatory issues for recommended adoption by the
Administrator.
``(3) To identify and assess the facts and data underlying
any real or perceived railroad safety problems, identify cost-
effective solutions to such problems based upon agree-upon
facts, and identify, if applicable, regulatory changes
necessary to guide and implement such solutions.
``(4) Any other responsibilities consistent with the
purpose described in subsection (a), as determined by the
Administrator.
``(c) Members.--The Railroad Safety Advisory Committee shall be
comprised of not fewer than 1 representative from each major
stakeholder group of the Federal Railroad Administration, including
freight and passenger railroad carriers, Amtrak, organizations that
represent local governments, rail passenger organizations, railroad
labor organizations (including organizations representing each of
operating crafts, maintenance of way employees, shop and mechanical
crafts, clerks, and dispatching employees), safety-related railroad
employees, and railroad suppliers and manufacturers.
``(d) Staff.--The Railroad Safety Advisory Committee may employ
such staff as the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee determines
necessary to carry out the purpose described in subsection (a).
``(e) Task-Based Working Groups.--
``(1) Tasks.--The Administrator may request the Railroad
Safety Advisory Committee establish a working group for the
purpose of providing specific advice and recommendations
regarding a task with respect to which the Administrator is
considering acting.
``(2) Working groups.--If the Railroad Safety Advisory
Committee, based on consideration and consensus of its members,
accepts a request under paragraph (1), the Railroad Safety
Advisory Committee shall--
``(A) establish a working group to develop
consensus recommendations for action the Administrator
may take with respect to the task; and
``(B) ensure the working group is comprised of
individuals that--
``(i) possess the appropriate expertise to
assess and develop such recommendations; and
``(ii) are representative of the interests
of stakeholders implicated by the task.
``(f) Federal Railroad Administration Required Engagement.--The
Administrator shall meet quarterly with the Railroad Safety Advisory
Committee to--
``(1) consult with the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee
regarding the development of railroad safety regulatory
programs of the Federal Railroad Administration;
``(2) advise the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee on
emerging issues, statutory requirements, and other identified
needs with respect to railroad safety; and
``(3) receive and discuss the views and recommendations of
the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee in determining
regulatory priorities of the Federal Railroad Administration.
``(g) Annual Report to Congress.--Beginning in the first calendar
year after the date of enactment of this section, the Railroad Safety
Advisory Committee shall submit to Congress an annual report
summarizing the activities of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee
for the period covered by the report.
``(h) Federal Advisory Committee Act Applicability.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply to the
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee.
``(2) Non-termination.--Section 1013 of title 5, United
States Code, shall not apply to the Railroad Safety Advisory
Committee.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund such funds as may be
necessary to carry out this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for subchapter I of chapter
201 of title 49, United States Code, by inserting after the item
relating to section 20121 the following new item:
``20122. Railroad Safety Advisory Committee.''.
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