Transportation

in committee · United States · House Mar 13, 2026

HR 7928: Thermal Runaway Reduction Act of 2026

The Thermal Runaway Reduction Act of 2026 aims to improve the safety of lithium-ion battery transportation by requiring the Department of Transportation to update regulations on how these batteries are shipped and handled. The bill mandates that batteries be transported at no more than 30 percent charge unless special approval is granted, and requires the development of new impact tests to prevent batteries from overheating during accidents. It also establishes a $10 million grant program to fund research on fire suppression technologies and provides additional funding for fire departments to purchase safety equipment and diagnostic tools for managing lithium-ion battery incidents.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens safety regulations for lithium-ion batteries, reducing fire risks and potential environmental contamination from battery incidents during transportation.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by updating lithium-ion battery shipping regulations and establishing grant programs for impact testing.90% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Mar 25, 2026

HR 8072: Safety in Shared Skies Act of 2026

The Safety in Shared Skies Act of 2026 requires the Department of Defense to test and certify automatic surveillance systems on its aircraft that fly in U.S. airspace at least once every 90 days. Under this law, the Defense Secretary must report testing results and any system failures to Congress every six months for the first two years of the bill's operation. Additionally, the Defense Department Inspector General will conduct audits to verify compliance with these testing requirements and submit a report on whether these oversight measures should continue beyond the initial period. This legislation directly affects the Department of Defense and its aircraft operations by establishing regular safety checks and transparency requirements.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances aviation safety through mandatory surveillance system testing and certification, directly supporting transportation safety standards.85% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Feb 9, 2026

HR 7437: BASICS Act

This bill, known as the BASICS Act, creates a new $5.5 billion federal funding program over five years to repair and replace bridges in poor condition across the United States. The program prioritizes projects based on the cost of bridge rehabilitation in each state and guarantees a minimum funding allocation of $45 million per state annually. It also expands funding for regional transportation planning in rural areas and increases flexibility for local governments to select and manage transportation projects through enhanced consultation requirements. Additionally, the legislation removes local matching fund requirements for metropolitan planning activities and allows 100 percent federal funding for off-system bridge projects owned by local governments or tribes.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates $5.5 billion for bridge repairs and expands rural transportation planning funding, directly strengthening transportation infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 4178: National Transit Frontline Workforce Training Act

This bill creates a Transit Workforce Center to help improve training and support for frontline public transportation workers across the United States. The Federal Transit Administration would establish this center by awarding grants to a qualified nonprofit organization that operates nationally and has experience in workforce development. The center would develop training programs, provide technical assistance, share educational resources, and analyze workforce data to help transit agencies recruit, hire, train, and retain skilled workers. It would also focus on emerging technology areas and work in partnership with labor groups, industry associations, and transit providers to address workforce needs in urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal areas.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes Transit Workforce Center to improve training and support for frontline public transportation workers, enhancing workforce development and employment standards.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes Transit Workforce Center to improve training and support for public transportation workers, strengthening workforce development in transportation sector95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Public Transit Rail

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in committee · United States · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 8226: Helicopter Safety Parity Act of 2026

The Helicopter Safety Parity Act of 2026 requires turbine-powered helicopters carrying two or more passengers to follow the same safety standards as commercial airlines, including stricter rules for pilot training, rest periods, maintenance, and equipment. This legislation directly affects helicopter operators currently regulated under Part 135 of federal aviation regulations, mandating compliance with Part 121 airline standards within 24 months of enactment. Key provisions include requirements for terrain awareness systems, cockpit and flight data recording, and the elimination of inconsistent exemptions by the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill also authorizes $50 million annually through 2030 for enforcement, oversight, and hiring additional safety inspectors, while excluding emergency medical services operations from these requirements.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by requiring helicopters to meet stricter airline safety standards, improving overall aviation safety protocols.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Airports

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in committee · United States · House Apr 3, 2026

HR 8188: Tribal Roads Improvement Act

The Tribal Roads Improvement Act addresses the poor condition of approximately 160,000 miles of roads on Tribal lands by allowing Tribal governments to use more of their transportation funding for road grading projects. This change removes a previous limitation that restricted how much of Tribal Transportation Program funds could be spent on grading, giving Tribes greater flexibility to improve road infrastructure. The bill also requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study within three years to evaluate the impact of this funding flexibility on road conditions, economic development, and community access. Results from the study will be reported to Congress with recommendations on how to further support Tribal road grading initiatives.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill improves Tribal road infrastructure by allowing more funding for road grading projects, directly strengthening transportation on Tribal lands.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Transportation Funding Tags Tribal Nations

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4273: Nicholas Douglas Quets Border Travel Safety Act

This bill, the Nicholas Douglas Quets Border Travel Safety Act, requires the Department of Homeland Security to install and maintain warning signage at U.S.-Mexico land border ports of entry that alerts travelers to dangerous areas identified in State Department travel advisories. The signage will be placed on roadways near border crossings in both English and Spanish, include QR codes linking to safety information, and be updated annually to reflect current security risks. The legislation aims to improve traveler awareness of safety threats such as criminal activity and violence in regions near the border, following the tragic killing of Nicholas Quets in Sonora, Mexico. The bill also mandates reports to Congress on the program's implementation and effectiveness within one year of enactment.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety at border crossings by installing warning signage and QR codes, improving traveler awareness of dangerous areas.85% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Mar 3, 2026

HR 7748: Railway Safety Act of 2026

The Railway Safety Act of 2026 establishes new safety requirements for trains transporting hazardous materials, including speed limits, enhanced reporting, and stricter tank car standards. It mandates that high-hazard trains carrying flammable liquids or toxic materials be limited to 40 mph in urban areas, while requiring railroads to provide real-time information to emergency responders. The bill also increases penalties for safety violations, requires more frequent inspections of rail equipment, and creates a new emergency response assistance program to help communities affected by hazardous materials incidents. Additionally, it authorizes funding for research into safer tank cars and defect detection systems, and requires the Federal Railroad Administration to improve its safety workforce management.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens safety regulations for hazardous materials transport, reducing potential environmental contamination risks from spills or accidents.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances railway safety by establishing stricter regulations for hazardous materials transport, improving overall transportation safety standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Rail

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in committee · United States · House Mar 25, 2026

HR 8068: National Transit Frontline Workforce Training Act

This bill establishes a Transit Workforce Center to support the recruitment, training, and retention of skilled frontline public transportation workers. The center would be run by a qualified nonprofit organization selected through federal grants and tasked with developing training programs, educational resources, and technical assistance for transit providers across urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal areas. Key duties include conducting data analytics on workforce trends, facilitating industry dialogues, and promoting outreach to improve job readiness for workers using new technologies. The legislation requires the center to collaborate with the Federal Transit Administration, transit providers, and employee representatives while considering feedback from providers when creating training initiatives.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes workforce center to support recruitment, training, and retention of transit workers, directly advancing labor standards and workforce development.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes Transit Workforce Center to recruit, train, and retain skilled public transportation workers, directly strengthening public transit infrastructure and workforce capacity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Workforce Development Public Transit Rail

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in committee · United States · House Mar 30, 2026

HR 8151: Expanding Private Airport Security Screening Act

This bill allows airport operators to contract with private companies to perform passenger and property security screening instead of relying solely on federal employees. To qualify, private companies must meet strict standards including employing only vetted staff, demonstrating equal capability to federal personnel, and being owned and controlled by U.S. citizens. The Transportation Security Administration would maintain a public list of approved companies, provide federal supervisors and law enforcement at airports using private screening, and conduct covert testing to ensure performance standards are met. The legislation also requires annual reports comparing the performance and costs of private screening against federal operations, and includes provisions to limit airport operator liability for damages caused by negligence or wrongdoing by private screening companies and their employees.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances airport security by allowing private contractors to perform screening, improving transportation safety standards while maintaining strict oversight.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Airports

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