HR 8996 United States House · 118th Congress

Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024

The Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024 establishes new safety requirements for high-hazard trains carrying hazardous materials, including speed limits of 50 mph (40 mph in urban areas) for trains with 20 or more flammable liquid tank cars. The bill requires rail carriers to provide real-time electronic train consist information to emergency responders and State emergency commissions, including details about hazardous materials being transported, routes, and emergency response contacts. It mandates railroads to develop and regularly update hazardous materials emergency response plans, with triennial reviews by the Federal Railroad Administration. The act also phases out older tank cars by December 2027, requiring all tank cars to meet DOT-117 specifications for flammable liquids, and increases civil penalties for rail safety violations up to $5 million.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jul 2024

Committee Review

Floor Vote

President

Introduced Jul 11, 2024 Last action Jul 12, 2024

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Full legislative history

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Committee

Jul 12, 2024

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

lower

Jul 11, 2024

Committee

Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.

lower

Jul 11, 2024

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 33 co-sponsors