Bill Summary
This legislation, passed by the United States Congress in February 2019, requires the Federal Railroad Administration to provide notice to certain congressional committees and representatives when initiating a comprehensive safety assessment of an entity providing intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation. The notice must be given within 10 business days of the initiation of the assessment, and the findings of the assessment must be transmitted within 90 days of its completion. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that Congress is informed of any safety concerns and recommendations for improvement in the rail transportation industry.
Possible Impacts
1. Individuals who regularly use intercity or commuter rail transportation may be affected by this legislation as it requires the Federal Railroad Administration to conduct comprehensive safety assessments and provide findings to Congress. This could lead to improved safety measures and overall better service for passengers.
2. The entities providing intercity or commuter rail transportation may be affected by this legislation as they will be subject to comprehensive safety assessments and required to comply with safety regulations and requirements. This could lead to increased costs for these companies as they may need to invest in safety improvements.
3. Members of Congress representing states where intercity or commuter rail services are located may be affected by this legislation as they will receive notifications and findings of safety assessments for these services. This could influence their decisions and actions regarding transportation policies and funding.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 543 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 543
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 7, 2019
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To require the Federal Railroad Administration to provide appropriate
congressional notice of comprehensive safety assessments conducted with
respect to intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NOTICE OF COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ASSESSMENTS.
(a) Initial Notice.--Not later than 10 business days after the
Federal Railroad Administration initiates a comprehensive safety
assessment of an entity providing regularly scheduled intercity or
commuter rail passenger transportation, the Federal Railroad
Administration shall notify in electronic format the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate,
and each member of Congress representing a State in which the service
that is the subject of the assessment being conducted is located, of
the initiation of that assessment.
(b) Findings.--Not later than 90 days after completion of a
comprehensive safety assessment described in subsection (a), the
Federal Railroad Administration shall transmit in electronic format to
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and to each member of Congress
representing a State in which the service that is the subject of the
assessment being conducted is located, its findings of that assessment,
including identified defects and any recommendations.
(c) Definition.--For purpose of this section, the term
``comprehensive safety assessment'' means a focused review of the
safety-related processes and procedures, compliance with safety
regulations and requirements, and overall safety culture of an entity
providing regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail passenger
transportation.
Passed the House of Representatives February 6, 2019.
Attest:
KAREN L. HAAS,
Clerk.