Transportation (Rail)

in committee · United States · House Apr 21, 2026

HR 8417: Keeping China Off the Rails Act

The Keeping China Off the Rails Act requires railroad freight cars placed into service in the United States to meet specific production age requirements that gradually increase over time. The bill directly affects railroad companies and freight car manufacturers by establishing a timeline where cars must be produced within progressively longer lookback periods, starting with cars made in the two years before enactment and eventually requiring all cars to meet the standard after four years. This phased approach aims to reduce the use of older freight cars that may have been manufactured in China by ensuring newer, domestically produced alternatives are used. The legislation does not ban Chinese-made cars outright but instead creates a schedule that limits their use as the required production window expands.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill restricts transportation infrastructure by imposing strict age limits on railroad freight cars, limiting the operational lifespan of rolling stock.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Freight Rail

Track

in committee · United States · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 8233: No CIG Act

The No CIG Act eliminates the Federal Transit Administration's Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants program by repealing the relevant sections of the U.S. Code. This change directly affects public transit agencies that previously received funding for building or upgrading rail systems, as they will no longer be eligible for these specific grants. The bill removes the legal authority for the program and makes corresponding adjustments to related code sections to ensure consistency.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill eliminates FTA Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants, directly cutting funding for public transit rail system development and upgrades.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Rail

Track

in committee · United States · House Mar 5, 2026

HR 7843: No Free Rides Act of 2026

This bill, known as the No Free Rides Act of 2026, would prohibit federal public transportation funding recipients from offering universal free fare policies that allow all riders to use transit services without paying. The law would still permit targeted fare policies that provide free or reduced-cost rides for specific groups such as seniors, low-income riders, students, or employees with employer-paid agreements. Additionally, the Secretary of Transportation could grant waivers if a transit agency can demonstrate a dedicated non-federal revenue source to support universal free fare programs. The measure directly affects public transportation agencies that receive federal assistance under Title 49 of the United States Code.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts public transportation funding by prohibiting universal free fare policies, limiting government spending on transit services.85% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill prohibits universal free fare policies on public transportation, restricting access and limiting funding flexibility for transit systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Rail Transportation Funding

Track

in committee · United States · Senate May 12, 2025

S 1711: STOP China Act

The STOP China Act prohibits federal funding for the procurement of certain vehicles (including buses) or related infrastructure from companies tied to China. It bans U.S. government contracts using "covered funding" for vehicles made by "covered entities" - defined as companies headquartered in China, controlled by China, or linked to Chinese state-owned entities, particularly those producing electric powertrains. The U.S. Trade Representative must publish and update a public list of these prohibited companies within 30 days of enactment, with quarterly updates initially. Exceptions allow funding for vehicle safety testing, investigations, and research, but the law directly affects federal transportation agencies, contractors, and companies with significant Chinese ownership or control.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBans federal funding for vehicles/infrastructure from Chinese-linked companies, restricting transportation procurement sources.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Rail

Track

in committee · United States · House Jan 7, 2025

HR 213: To prohibit the use of Federal financial assistance for a certain high-speed rail development project in the State of California, and for other purposes.

This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for California's high-speed rail project specifically identified in Cooperative Agreement No. FR-HSR-0118-12-01-01 between the California High-Speed Rail Authority and the Federal Railroad Administration. It directly affects California's high-speed rail development by blocking all federal financial assistance for this exact project. The key provision is a clear ban on federal funding for any project matching the scope of the referenced agreement. This is a concrete policy change that prevents federal money from supporting this specific rail corridor development.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationDefunds California's high-speed rail project, directly restricting transportation infrastructure funding per bill's explicit prohibition of federal assistance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Rail

Track

in committee · United States · House Sep 5, 2025

HR 5135: Train Crew Choice Act

The Train Crew Choice Act (HR 5135) voids a federal safety rule issued by the Federal Railroad Administration on April 9, 2024, which required minimum crew sizes on trains for safety. This rule, titled "Train Crew Size Safety Requirements," would have mandated specific numbers of crew members (e.g., two-person crews) for certain train operations. By nullifying the rule, the bill removes a federal mandate that railroads must follow, directly affecting railroad companies and the Federal Railroad Administration. The change eliminates the requirement for railroads to maintain minimum crew levels under this specific regulation.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentVoiding federal safety rule requiring minimum train crew sizes weakens workplace safety protections for railroad workers, directly opposing labor safety standards.95% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationRemoves federal safety mandate requiring minimum train crews, weakening rail safety standards per bill's voiding of FRA rule.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Rail

Track

in committee · United States · House Jul 26, 2025

HR 4756: Freights First Act

HR 4756, the Freights First Act, amends federal rail law to prevent Amtrak passenger trains from receiving priority over freight trains on shared rail infrastructure. Specifically, it adds a new provision stating that Amtrak's intercity and commuter rail services shall not have preference over freight transportation at rail lines, junctions, or crossings within 50 miles of a port or rail yard. This directly affects Amtrak's scheduling and operations in those specific geographic areas. The bill changes a code section (49 U.S.C. § 24308(c)) to establish this limitation, without creating new funding or regulatory requirements.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill restricts Amtrak passenger rail priority over freight on shared infrastructure, weakening public transit operations in designated areas per its explicit language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Freight Ports Rail

Track

in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2025

HR 4361: STOP China Act

HR 4361, the STOP China Act, prohibits the use of federal transportation funds to purchase vehicles or related infrastructure (like charging stations for buses) from companies linked to China. Specifically, it bans federal funding for "covered vehicles" made by entities owned or controlled by China (as defined by the bill), including those using Chinese-made electric powertrains. The U.S. Trade Representative must publish and update a public list of these banned entities within 30 days of the bill’s enactment, with updates every 90 days initially and annually thereafter. Exceptions apply only for vehicle safety testing, inspections, or research. The bill directly affects federal transportation projects and contractors receiving federal funds, requiring them to avoid procurement from listed Chinese-connected companies.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBlocks federal funding for EV infrastructure tied to China, restricting renewable energy infrastructure development per bill's ban on Chinese-linked electric powertrains and charging stations.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts technology by prohibiting federal funding for vehicles from Chinese companies, limiting access to certain tech products and infrastructure.85% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationRestricts federal transportation funding for vehicles/infrastructure linked to China, limiting eligible projects and defunding specific vendors in transportation sector.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Public Transit Rail

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 7, 2025

HR 3822: No Desire for Streetcars Act

HR 3822, the "No Desire for Streetcars Act," prohibits federal funding for streetcar projects across multiple transportation programs. The bill amends four key transportation funding laws (surface transportation block grants, congestion mitigation grants, urbanized area grants, and fixed guideway capital grants) to explicitly ban the use of allocated funds for streetcar procurement, operation, or maintenance. This directly affects state and local governments receiving these federal grants, preventing them from using the funds for streetcar-related expenses. The legislation creates a clear, specific restriction on funding without altering other program provisions or making broader policy statements.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly prohibits federal funding for streetcar projects, defunding specific transportation initiatives by restricting allocation of existing transportation grants.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentDefunds streetcars, a sustainable transit option that reduces emissions, contradicting environmental goals of pollution control and conservation.85% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill explicitly prohibits federal funding for streetcar projects, banning use of transportation grants for streetcar procurement, operation, or maintenance, directly restricting public transit infrastructure funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Public Transit Rail Roads & Highways

Track