Train Crew Choice Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5135

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Last Updated

2025-10-07T08:05:43Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose The legislation aims to prevent a specific Federal Railroad Administration regulation from taking effect by declaring it invalid.

Key Provisions

• The bill nullifies the final rule titled "Train Crew Size Safety Requirements" published in the Federal Register on April 9, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 25052).
• This rule shall have no force or effect under federal law.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The Act overrides an agency rulemaking without amending any underlying statutes.
• It directly blocks implementation of a recently finalized regulation on minimum crew sizes for trains.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: Limits the Federal Railroad Administration's ability to enforce the crew-size requirements.
• Citizens and industry: Allows railroads to operate with fewer crew members than the rule would have required, which could affect operational costs, employment levels for train crews, and safety practices.
• No direct effects on international relations are addressed.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Railroad companies and operators
• Train crew members and labor organizations
• The Federal Railroad Administration
• Passengers and the general public concerned with rail safety

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• The bill uses Congress's authority to nullify an executive branch regulation, illustrating legislative checks on agency actions.
• It raises questions about the balance between regulatory safety standards and industry flexibility in rail operations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
• 2025-09-04: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• 2025-09-04: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-04: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Train Crew Choice Act — issued 2025-09-04 — PDF (2 pages)