(1) In general

Except as otherwise provided, terms used in this title have the definitions given such terms in section 20155 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 102(a).

(2) Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.

(a) Tank car safety requirements

Section 20155 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

20155. High-hazard trains

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Explosives

The term explosives means Class 1 explosives categorized in Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 (as such terms are defined in section 173.50 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations).

(2) Flammable gas

The term flammable gas has the meaning given such term in section 173.115(a) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

(3) Flammable liquid

The term flammable liquid has the meaning given such term in section 173.120(a) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

(4) Hazardous material

The term hazardous material means a substance or material designated by the Secretary of Transportation as hazardous pursuant to section 5103 of title 49, United States Code.

(5) High-hazard train

The term high-hazard train means a single train transporting, throughout the train consist—

(A)

20 or more tank cars loaded with a flammable liquid;

(B)

1 tank car or intermodal portable tank load with a material toxic or poisonous by inhalation;

(C)

1 or more cars loaded with high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel;

(D)

10 or more cars loaded with explosives;

(E)

5 or more tank cars loaded with a flammable gas; or

(F)

20 or more cars loaded with any combination of flammable liquids, flammable gases, or explosives.

(6) High-level radioactive waste; spent nuclear fuel

The terms high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel have the meanings given to a type B package or a fissile material package, respectively, in section 173.403 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

(7) Material toxic or poisonous by inhalation

The term material toxic or poisonous by inhalation has the meaning given the term Material poisonous by inhalation or Material toxic by inhalation in section 171.8 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) Rulemaking

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026, the Secretary, in consultation with appropriate Federal agencies, shall issue regulations that—

(1)

rescind the requirements set forth in paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 174.310(a) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, with respect to tank cars carrying hazardous materials other than Class 3 flammable liquids;

(2)

revise the requirements set forth in section 174.310(a)(2) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations—

(A)

to limit all trains to a maximum speed of 50 miles per hour; and

(B)

to limit high-hazard trains carrying 20 or more cars loaded with flammable liquids to a maximum speed of 40 miles per hour while that train travels within the limits of high-threat urban areas (HTUAs) (as defined in 1508.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations), unless all tank cars containing a Class 3 flammable liquid meet or exceed the DOT specification 117 standards, the DOT specification 117P performance standards, or the DOT specification 117R retrofit standards set forth in subpart D of part 179 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, including DOT–105A, DOT–105H, DOT–105J, DOT–105S, DOT–112H, DOT–112J, DOT–112S, and DOT–120S tank cars;

(3)

require rail carriers operating high-hazard trains to comply with the requirements applicable to high-hazard flammable trains under section 174.310 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations;

(4)

require any Class I railroad transporting hazardous materials—

(A)

to generate accurate, real-time, and electronic train consist information, including—

(i)

the identity, quantity, and location of hazardous materials on a train;

(ii)

the point of origin and destination of the train;

(iii)

any emergency response information or resources required by the Secretary; and

(iv)

an emergency response point of contact designated by the Class I railroad; and

(B)

to enter into a memorandum of understanding with each applicable fusion center to provide the fusion center with secure and confidential access to the electronic train consist information described in subparagraph (A) for each train transporting hazardous materials in the jurisdiction of the fusion center;

(5)

require each Class I railroad to provide commodity flow reports of the hazardous materials transported by a high-hazard train to each State emergency response commission, Tribal emergency response commission, or other responsible State or Tribal agency, consistent with the notification content requirements under section 174.312 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), including—

(A)

a reasonable estimate of the number of high-hazard trains that are expected to travel, per week, through each county within the applicable jurisdiction;

(B)

updates to such estimate when making a change in volume of 25 percent or more;

(C)

a description of the hazardous materials being transported on such trains;

(D)

applicable emergency response information, as required by regulation;

(E)

identification of the routes over which the hazardous materials on such trains will be transported; and

(F)

a point of contact at the Class I railroad who—

(i)

has knowledge of the railroads’ transportation of hazardous materials; and

(ii)

is responsible for serving as the point of contact for the State emergency response commission, Tribal emergency response commission, or other State or Tribal agency responsible for receiving such information;

(6)

require each applicable State emergency response commission to provide to a political subdivision of a State, or the public agency responsible for emergency response or law enforcement, upon request of the political subdivision or public agency, the information the commission receives from a Class I railroad pursuant to paragraph (3), including, for any such political subdivision or public agency responsible for emergency response or law enforcement that makes an initial request for such information, any updates received by the State emergency response commission;

(7)

prohibit any Class I railroad, employee, or agent from withholding, or causing to be withheld, the train consist information from first responders, emergency response officials, Federal and State agencies, and law enforcement personnel described in paragraph (2)(B) who are responding to an incident, accident, or public health or safety emergency involving the rail transportation of hazardous materials; and

(8)

establish security and confidentiality protections, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, including protections from the public release of proprietary information or security sensitive information (as defined in section 15.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations), to prevent the release to unauthorized persons any electronic train consist information or advanced notification or information provided by Class I railroads under this section.

(c) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a Class I railroad from voluntarily entering into a memorandum of understanding with a State emergency response commission or an entity representing or including first responders, emergency response officials, and law enforcement personnel.

(d) Safety improvements

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026, the Secretary shall evaluate and update, to the extent necessary for safety and in compliance with Executive Order 12866 (5 U.S.C. 601 note; relating to regulatory planning and review), the operational requirements for high-hazard trains to ensure the safe transportation of hazardous materials by rail, including—

(1)

preventing the placement of blocks of empty railcars in locations within the consist of the train that increase the chance or severity of a derailment; and

(2)

requirements for an adequate number of buffer cars between a locomotive or railcar and tank cars transporting hazardous materials.

(e) Hazardous materials emergency response plans

(1) Plan contents

The Secretary shall promulgate regulations, in compliance with Executive Order 12866, requiring all Class I railroads that operate high-hazard trains to submit to the Secretary hazardous materials emergency response plans that are consistent with the format of the National Response Team One Plan. Such plans shall include—

(A)

consideration of potential hazardous materials release for the hazardous materials identified under subsection (a)(7) that the railroad is transporting;

(B)

identification of the railroad’s hazardous materials response teams that can quickly respond to a release or potential release within a reasonable amount of time;

(C)

identification of the equipment and resources available to the hazardous materials response teams;

(D)

organizational charts for the hazardous materials response teams; and

(E)

plans to facilitate hazardous materials release liability claims.

(2) Coordination

Railroads shall coordinate with relevant States and Tribes when creating the plans required under paragraph (1).

(3) Triennial review

Not later than 1 year after a Class I railroad submits a hazardous materials emergency response plan pursuant to paragraph (1), and on a triennial basis thereafter, the Secretary shall review such plan. If the Secretary identifies deficiencies during such review, the Secretary shall describe the nature of any deficiencies and allow for correction.

(4) Verification

The Secretary shall periodically audit a railroad’s hazardous materials emergency response plan.

(b) Clerical amendment

The analysis in chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 20154 the following: 20155. High-hazard trains..

(a) Reviewing and updating safety regulations

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary submits to Congress the report required under section 22422(d) of the Passenger Rail Expansion and Rail Safety Act of 2021 (title II of division B of Public Law 117–58), the Secretary shall independently evaluate any safety concerns identified in the Comptroller General’s report titled Freight Trains Are Getting Longer, and Additional Information Is Needed to Assess Their Impact (GAO–19–443) and in the report required under section 22422(d) of the Passenger Rail Expansion and Rail Safety Act of 2021, by reviewing and subsequently updating, if necessary for safety and in compliance with Executive Order 12866 (5 U.S.C. 601 note; relating to regulatory planning and review), existing safety regulations to ensure the safe transportation of goods and passengers by rail, including consideration of the impact that train length and weight have on the safe transportation of high-hazard trains.

(b) Report

Not later than 3 years after the date on which the Secretary submits the report required under subsection (a), if the Secretary has not addressed any recommendation contained within such report, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that justifies such inaction.

(c) Reporting requirement

(a) Study

The Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy shall—

(b) Members

In establishing the membership to conduct the study described in subsection (a)(1), the National Academy of Sciences shall appoint not fewer than 3 of its members who—

(c) Elements

The study conducted pursuant to subsection (a)(1) shall—

(d) Report

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that contains the results of the study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences pursuant to this section.

(e) Funding

From the amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2026 to carry out section 20108 of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary shall expend such sums as may be necessary, but not more than $2,000,000, to carry out the study required under this section.

(f) Railroad crossing elimination program

Section 22909 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(g) Railroad point of contact for blocked crossings

(a) Time available for inspection

(b) Pre-Departure railcar inspections

Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall amend the pre-departure inspection requirements for Class I railroads under part 215 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as written on such date of enactment)—

(c) Qualified locomotive inspections

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review and amend, as necessary, regulations under chapters 229 and 243 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations—

(d) Audits

(e) Review of regulations

Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary shall determine whether any update to chapters I and II of subtitle B of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, is necessary to ensure the adequacy of railcar, locomotive, and train brake system inspections.

(f) Annual report

The Secretary shall publish an annual report on the public website of the Federal Railroad Administration that—

(g) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section may be construed—

(a) In general

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration shall convene a meeting of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee for the purpose of considering a regulatory safety task on the functioning of emergency brake signals.

(b) Purpose

The Railroad Safety Advisory Committee shall consider—

(c) Recommendations and work plan

Not later than 90 days after the meeting is convened pursuant to subsection (a), a working group of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee should—

(a) In general

Subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 105(a)(1), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

20173. Defect detection systems

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Covered rail carrier

The term covered rail carrier has the meaning given the term Class I carrier in section 10102.

(2) Defect detection system

The term defect detection system means the use of defect detectors, the analysis of the data defect detectors produce, and any other aspects a system that help railroads identify and understand the severity of known safety conditions.

(3) Defect detector

The term defect detector means any device or equipment situated within the rail system that can detect and communicate a potential or known safety condition.

(4) High-hazard train

The term high-hazard train has the meaning given such term in section 20155(a)(6).

(5) Main line

The term main line means—

(A)

a segment or route of railroad tracks—

(i)

over which 5,000,000 or more gross tons of railroad traffic is transported annually; and

(ii)

that has a maximum authorized speed for freight trains in excess of 25 miles per hour; and

(B)

intercity rail passenger transportation or commuter rail passenger transportation routes or segments over which high-hazard trains operate.

(6) Physical characteristics

The term physical characteristics means the physical terrain and operating considerations related to the physical terrain for the relevant main line.

(b) Defect detector analysis program

The Secretary shall develop a program for the research, development, testing, and evaluation of defect detector systems to inform and support the rulemaking required under subsection (d) and the evaluation of plans under subsection (c), which shall include—

(1)

an evaluation of existing manufacturer recommended practices, industry-developed voluntary consensus technical standards, and railroad safety data to inform appropriate standards for commercially available defect detector systems and ensure the integrity and reliability of their use on the general railroad system, including standards relating to—

(A)

maintenance;

(B)

testing;

(C)

inspection; and

(D)

installation;

(2)

an assessment of existing alert thresholds and trending algorithms to determine appropriate metrics and levels to ensure that defect detector systems identify unsafe equipment or operations in time to take appropriate safety actions;

(3)

an evaluation of existing processes and procedures for decisionmaking and communication of appropriate safety actions necessary to address unsafe equipment or operations, including—

(A)

stoppage of rail equipment;

(B)

setting out rail equipment;

(C)

train speed reduction;

(D)

diverting a train; and

(E)

inspection requirements;

(4)

research to understand the capabilities and limitations of existing technologies in use or developed to better assess the plans required under the final rule issued pursuant to subsection (c); and

(5)

research to understand new or developing technologies.

(c) Plan elements

(1) Risk-based

Each defect detection system plan required under the final rule issued pursuant to subsection (d) shall be risk-based.

(2) Contents

Each plan referred to in paragraph (1) shall include—

(A)

a summary of the railroad’s proposed defect detector network, including—

(i)

how the network will reduce the risk of incidents near population centers and on high-hazard train routes; and

(ii)

a description of how the network will be implemented by the deadline set forth in subsection (d)(1)(B);

(B)

a description of how the railroad’s defect detection system meets or exceeds the defect detection performance standards described in subsection (d)(1)(D);

(C)

except as provided in paragraph (3), a risk-based approach for identifying overheated wheel bearings that require the placement of the types and spacing of defect detectors—

(i)

for main lines traveling within an urbanized area with a population of at least 75,000, at a distance that provides for any train operating along the railroad’s route to undergo detection not less than 10 miles before entering such an area;

(ii)

for main lines not equipped with acoustic bearing detectors or other similar technology, at a distance averaging 15 route miles to the extent possible based on the physical characteristics of the route; and

(iii)

for main lines equipped with acoustic bearing detectors or other similar technology, at a distance averaging 20 route miles to the extent possible based on the physical characteristics of the route along which such detectors are being installed;

(D)

the types and spacing of other wayside defect detectors required to be placed, to the extent such detectors are utilized;

(E)

the manufacturer’s expected performance for each type of defect detector and how the carrier will assess compliance with such performance;

(F)

procedures for promptly providing pertinent safety alerts to train employees, including locomotive engineers and conductors, train dispatchers, and relevant maintenance employees;

(G)

the ability to share relevant safety data from the defect detector network with other railroad carriers and with railcar owners;

(H)

policies and procedures for training employees regarding relevant elements of the defect detector system, including—

(i)

persons whose duties include installing, maintaining, repairing, modifying, inspecting, reviewing data, and testing safety-critical elements of the railroad’s defect detector, including central office, wayside, or onboard subsystems;

(ii)

persons who receive and review defect detector alerts; and

(iii)

persons who operate trains or serve as a train or engine crew member;

(I)

policies for maintaining records regarding the required elements of the rail defect detector network for not less than 5 years, which shall not include data on individual alerts; and

(J)

designs for the collection and analysis, including applicable alerts, thresholds, and corresponding safety actions.

(3) Alternative hot bearing detection plan

(A) Submission

A rail carrier may comply with an alternative hot bearing detection plan instead of the requirements described in paragraph (2)(C) if—

(i)

the rail carrier submits such plan to the Secretary and the Secretary approves the plan; and

(ii)

the plan provides an equivalent or higher level of safety as the requirements described in paragraph (2)(B).

(B) Triennial reviews

Not less frequently than triennially, the Secretary shall review each alternative plan approved pursuant to subparagraph (A) to determine its continuing effectiveness at detecting bearing-related defects.

(d) Rulemaking

(1) In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026, the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking, and not later than 2 years after such date of enactment, the Secretary shall issue a final rule, in compliance with Executive Order 12866 (5 U.S.C. 601 note; relating to regulatory planning and review), that—

(A)

requires covered rail carriers to submit, not later than 1 year after the issuance of such final rule, defect detector network plans that include the elements described in subsection (c)(2);

(B)

requires the covered rail carrier to implement the plan required under paragraph (1) not later than 3 years after the issuance of such final rule;

(C)

creates procedures to review, approve, and monitor compliance of such plans;

(D)

establishes performance standards measured by the ability of a defect detection system to identify defects before a condition that is likely to result in an accident or incident, including how such ability will be measured and reported for data related to requirements;

(E)

requires the reporting of data regarding the defect defector network effectiveness, including defect detector failures;

(F)

creates requirements for covered rail carriers to test, inspect, and maintain any defect detector based on the evaluation completed pursuant to subsection (b)(1); and

(G)

establish appropriate thresholds for alerts and corresponding safety actions, to the extent necessary.

(2) Updated standards

The performance standards established pursuant to paragraph (1)(D) shall be updated not less frequently than once every 5 years.

(e) Updates and approvals

(1) Updates

Each entity subject to the mandate in subsection (a) shall update the plans required under subsection (d)(1)—

(A)

to reflect material changes to its railcar defect detector network; or

(B)

to address changes made to the performance standards pursuant to subsection (d)(2).

(2) Approvals

To ensure safety, the Secretary shall promptly review each plan submitted pursuant to subsection (d)(1), including the sufficiency of the performance standards required under subsection (c)(1)(D), and approve or reject each plan and update that is required to be submitted under this section.

(3) Reviews for compliance

Not less frequently than biannually, the Secretary shall conduct reviews to ensure that railroad carriers are complying with the plans required under paragraph (1).

(4) Public availability

Not later than 60 days after receipt, the Secretary shall make available to the public on the website of the Department of Transportation any plan or update submitted pursuant to this section, but the Secretary shall redact—

(A)

proprietary information, as verified by the Secretary; and

(B)

security-sensitive information, including information described in section 1520.5(a) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulation), as verified by the Secretary.

(f) Enforcement

The Secretary may assess a civil penalty under chapter 213 of this title for any violation pursuant to the rulemaking under subsection (a) for—

(1)

each accident or incident on a route where the railroad is noncompliant with the plan approved under subsection (e)(2); and

(2)

failing to take any corresponding safety action to an alert as set forth in the approved plan pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(J).

(g) Preservation of authority

Nothing in this section may be construed to restrict the authority of the Secretary.

(b) Clerical amendment

The analysis for subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 105(a)(2), is further amended by adding at the end the following: 20173. Defect detection systems..

(c) Temporary defect detection assistance

(a) Short title

This section may be cited as the Safe Freight Act of 2023.

(b) Freight train crew size

Subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 20153 the following:

20154. Freight train crew size safety standards

(a) Minimum crew size

Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), a freight train operated by a Class I railroad may not be operated without a 2-person crew consisting of at least 1 appropriately qualified and certified conductor and 1 appropriately qualified and certified locomotive engineer.

(b) Exceptions

(1) In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the requirement under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to—

(A)

train operations on track that is not a main line track (as defined in section 20173(a)(2));

(B)

locomotives performing assistance to a train that has incurred mechanical failure or lacks the power to traverse difficult terrain, including traveling to or from the location where assistance is provided;

(C)

locomotives that—

(i)

are not attached to any equipment or are attached only to a caboose; and

(ii)

do not travel farther than 50 miles from the point of origin of such locomotive; and

(D)

train operations staffed with fewer than a 2-person crew at least 1 year before the date of the enactment of the Safe Freight Act of 2023 unless the Secretary determines that such operations do not achieve an equivalent level of safety as would result from compliance with the requirement under subsection (a).

(2) Trains ineligible for exception

The exceptions under paragraph (2) may not be applied to—

(A)

a high-hazard train (as defined in section 20155(a)); or

(B)

a train consist with a total length of at least 7,500 feet.

(c) Waiver

A railroad carrier may seek a waiver of the requirements under subsection (a) in accordance with section 20103(d).

(d) Preservation of authority

Nothing in this section may be construed to restrict the authority of the Secretary.

(c) Clerical amendment

The analysis for subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 20153 the following: 20154. Freight train crew size safety standards..

(a) Railroad safety violations

Section 21301(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Hours of service violations

Section 21301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(d) Additional provisions related to violations of chapter 211

(1)

In any proceeding involving a violation of chapter 211, or a violation of a regulation or order issued pursuant to such chapter, a railroad carrier is deemed to have knowledge of the acts of its officers and agents.

(2)

A civil action involving a violation of chapter 211, or a violation of a regulation or order issued pursuant to such chapter, shall be brought in an appropriate district court of the United States not later than 2 years after the date of such violation unless administrative notification under section 3711 of title 31 is given within such 2-year period to the person committing the violation. If such notification is given, the action shall be brought not later than the last day of the 5-year period specified in section 2462 of title 28.

(3)

A separate violation of section 21106 occurs for each day employee sleeping quarters are not in compliance with the requirements under such section.

(c) Updates of penalties for inflation

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note), the inflation adjustment—

(d) Repeal

(a) Class 3 flammable liquids phase-Out schedule

Beginning on December 31, 2027, no railroad tank car, regardless of its construction date, may be used to transport Class 3 flammable liquids in packing groups II and III (other than Class 3 flammable liquids listed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 7304(b) of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2015 (49 U.S.C. 20155 note)), regardless of the composition of the train consist, unless such tank car meets or exceeds the DOT–117, DOT–117P, or DOT–117R specifications (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act), including DOT–105A, DOT–105H, DOT–105J, DOT–105S, DOT–112H, DOT–112S, DOT–112J, DOT–120J, and DOT–120S tank cars.

(b) Conforming regulatory amendments

(c) Amending the phase-Out date

If the Secretary, based on the data contained in the report issued pursuant to subsection (d), determines that the phase-out date under subsection (a) cannot be met due to insufficient manufacturing capacity or would otherwise result in significant impacts to interstate commerce, the Secretary shall delay the phase-out scheduled under subsection (a) to December 31, 2028.

(d) GAO review

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall issue a report to the Secretary, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that—

(a) Research requirement

The Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration shall award grants, in accordance with the restrictions and limitation on eligibility for Class I railroads under section 22907 of title 49, United States Code, which shall be used for research and development of defect detectors and the prevention of derailments of trains transporting hazardous materials.

(b) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Railroad Administration, $22,000,000, which shall be used for the grants authorized under subsection (a) and shall remain available until expended.

(1)

stronger, safer tank cars and valves for tank cars; and

(2)

other tank car safety features.

(a) Review

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation shall—

(b) Considerations

As a part of the review conducted pursuant to subsection (a)(1), the Inspector General shall consider the impacts of the Federal Railroad Administration’s—

(c) Action plan

Not later than 1 year after the submission of the report required under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and post on a public-facing website an action plan that addresses the recommendations and findings made by the Inspector General in such report.

(a) In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—

(b) Contents

The report submitted under subsection (a)(2) shall—

(1)

an assessment of the changes in the number of Federal Railroad Administration safety inspectors and specialists, including—

(2)

an assessment of geographic allocation plans, potential hiring and time-to-hire challenges, expected retirement rates, and recruitment and retention strategies;

(3)

a description of any internal Federal Railroad Administration goals for compliance inspection rates across the network of regulated activities, and whether requested and actual safety inspector and specialist workforce levels align with such goals;

(4)

whether the system used for the notification, processing, or storing of civil penalty enforcement cases and other compliance actions recommended by safety inspectors and specialists against railroads, shippers of hazardous materials, and other respondents effectively supports the Federal Railroad Administration’s compliance inspection and enforcement program;

(5)

whether any macroeconomic or other conditions exist or have existed under which it has been difficult for the Federal Railroad Administration to fill safety inspector and specialist vacancies, and the degree to which special rates of pay or other recruitment and retention practices could ameliorate or could have ameliorated such difficulty; and

(6)

recommendations for any reforms that could—

(a) Revising railroad safety series

Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall—

(b) Report

Not later than 30 days after completing the review required under subsection (a), if the Director determines that a revision of the Railroad Safety Series is not appropriate, the Director shall submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that—

(a) Requirements for close call reporting system

The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration shall jointly ensure that any close call reporting system carried out by such Administrators provides for the following:

(b) Application of close call reporting to amtrak

Each Class I railroad and Amtrak shall, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, enroll in the confidential close call reporting system for a period of 2 years.

(a) In general

In order to be eligible for financial assistance under section 22907 or 24911 of title 49, United States Code, a State department of transportation shall notify first responders about the AskRail application, if a Class 1 railroad operates within the State, not later than 180 days after receiving such financial assistance.

(b) FRA notification

If a State is subject to subsection (a), each State department of transportation shall submit to the Federal Rail Administration—

(c) AskRail connectivity pilot program

(1)

include whistles, air horns, white disks or red flags, or lanterns; and

(2)

may only include the use of a verbal warning if a single worker receiving such warning is within arm's reach of the individual issuing such warning.

(1)

in paragraph (1), by striking (1) The Secretary and inserting the following:

(1) In general

The Secretary; and

(2)

in paragraph (2)—

(1)

in subparagraph (B), by striking and after the semicolon at the end; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(D)

recommendations for the development of courses described in subparagraph (B) that have been adapted for virtual learning and any courses for which the Secretary has recommended adaptation to provide virtual options, subject to the condition that the Secretary ensures that the virtual options recommended will provide an equivalent level of training as in-person courses; and

(a) In general

Section 5116 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Assistance for local emergency response training

Section 5116(j)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking liquids and inserting materials.

(c) Authorization of appropriations

Section 5128(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(d) Clerical amendment

The analysis for chapter 51 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 5116 and inserting the following: 5116. Hazardous materials transportation emergency response and preparedness..

(e) Conforming amendments

(1)

by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (l);

(2)

by inserting after subsection (j) the following:

(k) Emergency response assistance

(1) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) Significant hazardous materials transportation incident

The term significant hazardous materials transportation incident means an incident that—

(i)

involves hazardous materials being moved by a motor carrier or rail carrier;

(ii)

requires a response by at least 1 eligible entity described in paragraph (6) for which the Secretary estimates the costs to the eligible entity to be at least $15,000; and

(iii)

results in a serious injury, fatality, or substantial property damage.

(B) Substantial property damage

The term substantial property damage means damage to public or private property or the environment (including clean up costs) the Secretary reasonably estimates to be more than $45,000.

(2) Establishment of program

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, after providing an opportunity for notice and comment, shall establish an emergency response assistance program to provide immediate financial assistance to communities responding to a significant hazardous materials transportation incident.

(3) Significant hazardous materials transportation incident

(A) In general

The Secretary shall have the authority to declare a significant hazardous materials transportation incident.

(B) Guidelines

The Secretary shall establish and publish guidelines to determine whether a significant hazardous materials transportation incident has occurred.

(4) Release of funds

(A) In general

The Secretary shall immediately make available from the amount set aside under subsection (h)(3) in the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Fund established under subsection (h)(1) (referred to in this subsection as the Fund) up to $10,000,000 to quickly reimburse eligible entities described in paragraph (6) that responded to a significant hazardous materials transportation incident if—

(i)

the Secretary declares the incident a significant hazardous materials transportation incident; and

(ii)

at least 14 days but not later than 21 days after the declaration of a significant hazardous materials transportation incident, the Secretary determines, in accordance with paragraph (8), that the responsible party does not have an acceptable reimbursement plan.

(B) Additional funds

In addition to any amounts made available under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make additional funding available from the amount set aside under subsection (h)(3) in the Fund if the Secretary determines that the additional funding is necessary.

(C) Authority

The Secretary may make funds available under this subsection if the Secretary determines the responsible party is not complying with its acceptable plan under paragraph (8).

(5) Administration of funds

The Secretary may provide funds from the amount set aside under subsection (h)(3) in the Fund to a State in which a hazardous materials transportation incident occurred for the State to use and administer reimbursements in accordance with this subsection, including by providing funds to eligible entities described in paragraph (6).

(6) Eligible entities described

The eligible entities referred to in paragraphs (4)(A) and (5) are—

(A)

States, territories, and Tribes;

(B)

political subdivisions of a State or territory; and

(C)

public emergency response organizations.

(7) Use of funds

(A) In general

Funds made available under paragraph (4) or (5) may be used only—

(i)

for the cost of replacing personal protective equipment that is damaged, contaminated, or otherwise rendered unusable as a result of the response of the eligible entity to a significant hazardous materials transportation incident;

(ii)

for overtime pay of employees of eligible entities that responded to the scene of a significant hazardous materials transportation incident;

(iii)

for operational costs exceeding standard operating expenses that are directly related to the cost of responding to the significant hazardous materials transportation incident, such as the costs of running a supplementary emergency response center;

(iv)

for the cost of providing baseline health care assessments to emergency response personnel who responded to the significant hazardous materials transportation incident, but not more than $1,000 per person, which shall be adjusted annually for inflation; and

(v)

to reimburse an eligible entity for an eligible cost described in any of clauses (i) through (iv) that is incurred within 30 days of the date of a significant hazardous materials transportation incident.

(B) Documentation of costs

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary declares a significant hazardous materials transportation incident for which an eligible entity receives assistance under this subsection, the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary documentation for each item for which that assistance was used pursuant to the eligible uses of funds described in subparagraph (A).

(C) Misuse of funds

If the Secretary determines that an eligible entity has used assistance received under this subsection in a manner that violates subparagraph (A) or any other provision of this subsection, the eligible entity shall reimburse the Fund (if the assistance was provided from the Fund) or the responsible party (if the assistance was provided by the responsible party), for the amount of that assistance.

(8) Acceptable plan

(A) In general

For purposes of paragraph (4)(A)(ii), the Secretary shall consider a reimbursement plan of a responsible party to be acceptable if the plan seeks to review and process claims made by eligible entities for the costs described in paragraph (7) not later than 90 days after the date of the significant hazardous materials transportation incident.

(B) Advance submission; certain plans

(i) Advance submission

A plan to provide reimbursement to eligible entities in accordance with subparagraph (A) may be submitted to the Secretary for approval in advance of any significant hazardous materials transportation incident to which the plan might apply.

(ii) Certain plan

A hazardous materials emergency response plan approved by the Secretary in accordance with section 20155(e) shall be considered an acceptable plan for purposes of this subsection.

(9) Reimbursement by responsible party

(A) In general

Subject to subparagraph (F), the party responsible for a significant hazardous materials transportation incident shall be liable to the Secretary for reimbursement of all amounts disbursed from the Fund under this subsection for that significant hazardous materials transportation incident.

(B) Requirement

Any funding recovered by the Secretary under this subsection shall be deposited back into the Fund.

(C) Notice

After the Secretary has received the documented costs under paragraph (7)(B), the Secretary shall provide notice to the responsible party regarding the total amount owed.

(D) Final agency action

Not later than 30 days after the Secretary makes a determination of the amount for which the responsible party is liable under subparagraph (A), the responsible party may challenge that determination as a final agency action.

(E) Civil action

(i) In general

The Attorney General may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States to collect unpaid amounts under this paragraph and any accrued interest on those amounts.

(ii) Limitation on judicial review

In a civil action under clause (i), the amount for which a responsible party is liable, as determined by the Secretary, unless challenged under subparagraph (D), shall not be subject to judicial review.

(F) Discretion

If the responsible party is a small business concern (within the meaning of part 121 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)) that is unable to fully reimburse the Secretary, the Secretary shall have discretion with respect to the amount of funds the Secretary requests from the responsible party under this paragraph.

(10) Streamlined application process

The Secretary shall streamline the application process for the receipt of funds under this subsection, including by—

(A)

providing technical assistance to eligible entities; and

(B)

creating a template that eligible entities can use to apply for funding.

(11) Savings provisions

(A) Liability

Nothing in this subsection limits, or may be construed to limit, the liability of a responsible party.

(B) Reimbursement

(i) In general

A responsible party may, in accordance with any other applicable law—

(I)

seek to establish that another party was responsible, in whole or in part (as such other law allows), for the applicable significant hazardous materials transportation incident; and

(II)

seek reimbursement (to the extent such other law allows) from that other party.

(ii) Effect of subsection

Nothing in this subsection limits, or may be construed to limit, the ability of a responsible party to seek reimbursement from any other party found to be responsible in any civil action arising from the applicable significant hazardous materials transportation incident.

(iii) Effect of determination

A determination by the Secretary that a party is a responsible party for purposes of this subsection shall not be considered or otherwise have any effect with respect to the determination of liability in any civil action described in clause (ii).

(iv) Effect of reimbursements and other activities

No activity taken under this subsection to reimburse an eligible entity, reimburse the Secretary, prepare or carry out a reimbursement plan, or otherwise comply with or make a payment under this subsection shall be considered or otherwise have any effect with respect to the determination of liability in any civil action described in clause (ii).

(12) Comptroller general report

(A) In general

Not later than September 30, 2027, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the effectiveness this subsection.

(B) Contents

The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include, at a minimum, information on—

(i)

the number of significant hazardous materials transportation incidents that received funding under this subsection;

(ii)

the amount of financial assistance the Secretary provided to eligible entities;

(iii)

the amount of financial assistance responsible parties submitted to the Secretary under paragraph (9);

(iv)

the amount of reimbursement the Secretary received from eligible entities as required under paragraph (7)(C);

(v)

whether the amounts provided by the Secretary under this subsection adequately reflect the amounts actually spent by the eligible entities;

(vi)

whether the Secretary was able to provide the financial assistance quickly enough to the eligible entities so that the assistance effectively supported the preparedness of the eligible entities to respond to potential future incidents; and

(vii)

any other factors the Comptroller General of the United States considers to be appropriate to review the effectiveness of this subsection.; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(m) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Emergency response personnel

The term emergency response personnel means—

(A)

an employee of a State, territory, Tribe, or political subdivision of a State; and

(B)

a person belonging to a public emergency response organization.

(2) Public emergency response organization

(A) In general

The term public emergency response organization means—

(i)

a fire department that has an all-paid force of firefighting personnel other than paid-on-call firefighters;

(ii)

a fire department that has—

(I)

paid firefighting personnel; and

(II)

volunteer firefighting personnel;

(iii)

a nonaffiliated EMS organization; and

(iv)

a fire department that has an all-volunteer force of firefighting personnel.

(B) Associated definition

For purposes of subparagraph (A)(iii), the term nonaffiliated EMS organization means a public or private nonprofit emergency medical services organization that—

(i)

is not affiliated with a hospital; and

(ii)

does not serve a geographic area for which the Secretary or a State finds that emergency medical services are adequately provided by a fire department.