Under Pressure Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7011
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-16T14:55:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Under Pressure Act (H.R. 7011) aims to improve rail safety by requiring a detailed federal report on failures of pressure relief devices—safety valves that release excess pressure on rail tank cars during derailments—to identify causes and prevention strategies.
Key Provisions
- Report Requirement: Within 18 months of enactment, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator must submit a report to Congress covering:
- Rates and causes of pressure relief device failures in derailments, including event details like:
- Number of tank cars involved.
- Presence of fire, and if so, its temperature and duration.
- Time and circumstances leading to device failure.
- For each failed device: compatibility with the tank car's cargo, its ability to withstand high heat, and its position (e.g., above/below vapor line or in liquid space).
- Recommendations to prevent future failures.
- Status of unresolved National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations on rail tank cars.
- Consultation Mandate: FRA must consult with:
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Administrator.
- Rail employers.
- Rail employee organizations.
- Rail tank car builders, shippers, and owners.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new reporting obligation for FRA, with no prior equivalent specified; builds on existing NTSB recommendations by requiring status updates on unresolved ones.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: FRA faces a deadline-driven workload; may inform future regulations by PHMSA or FRA on tank car safety.
- Citizens: Could lead to safer transport of hazardous materials by rail, reducing derailment risks like fires or leaks near communities.
- International Relations: None directly affected.
Main Stakeholders
- Federal Agencies: FRA (lead), PHMSA, NTSB.
- Rail Industry: Employers, employees (via unions), tank car builders, shippers, and owners.
- Congress: Receives report for oversight and potential rulemaking.
- Public: Communities near rail lines benefit from safety insights.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Standard congressional directive for executive reporting (oversight tool); enforceable via existing FRA authority under rail safety laws.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce clause powers over interstate rail transport.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan rail safety focus (introduced by Reps. Deluzio and Rulli); may spur regulations without mandating them, avoiding immediate costs or industry pushback.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- 2026-01-12: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-01-12: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Under Pressure Act — issued 2026-01-12 — PDF (3 pages)