Railroad Safety and Accountability Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7338
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-04: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:07:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Railroad Safety and Accountability Act (H.R. 7338) aims to formally establish and make permanent the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) within U.S. law. This committee provides expert advice to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on improving railroad safety through regulations and other measures, promoting collaboration among industry stakeholders to develop effective safety standards.
Key Provisions
- Establishment and Role of RSAC: Codifies RSAC under Section 20122 of Title 49, United States Code, as an ongoing advisory body maintained by the FRA Administrator. Its main goal is to advise on creating, reviewing, and revising railroad safety rules, as well as exploring non-regulatory ways to enhance safety.
- Duties:
- Serves as a forum for joint development of safety rules involving all railroad sectors.
- Develops consensus-based standards and solutions for safety issues.
- Analyzes safety problems, identifies cost-effective fixes, and recommends regulatory changes if needed.
- Handles other tasks assigned by the FRA Administrator.
- Membership: Includes at least one representative from key groups, such as freight and passenger railroads, Amtrak, local governments, passenger organizations, railroad labor unions (covering operating crews, maintenance workers, mechanics, clerks, and dispatchers), safety-focused employees, and suppliers/manufacturers.
- Staff and Operations: Allows RSAC to hire necessary staff. The FRA Administrator can request task-specific working groups, which must include experts representing affected interests and aim for consensus recommendations.
- FRA Engagement: Requires quarterly meetings between the FRA Administrator and RSAC to discuss regulatory programs, emerging safety issues, and priorities.
- Reporting: RSAC must submit an annual report to Congress summarizing its activities, starting the year after enactment.
- Legal Framework: Applies the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA, a law governing advisory committees) with an exception: RSAC will not automatically terminate after two years as FACA normally requires.
- Funding: Authorizes appropriations from the Highway Trust Fund as needed to support RSAC.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Codification of RSAC: Previously operating as an informal advisory group under FRA authority, RSAC is now permanently embedded in federal law (Title 49, U.S. Code), ensuring its continuity unless Congress amends or repeals the provision.
- Exemption from Termination: Removes the standard two-year sunset clause under FACA, making RSAC a long-term entity.
- Enhanced Structure: Adds formal requirements for membership diversity, working groups, quarterly consultations, and annual congressional reporting, which were not previously mandated in statute.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The FRA will benefit from structured, consensus-driven input on safety regulations, potentially leading to more efficient rulemaking and fewer legal challenges. This could streamline FRA operations but require additional administrative resources for meetings and coordination.
- Citizens: Improved railroad safety standards may reduce accident risks for passengers, communities near tracks, and the public, enhancing overall transportation safety without direct costs to individuals.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though stronger U.S. rail safety could indirectly support cross-border trade and standards alignment with countries sharing rail networks (e.g., Canada and Mexico).
- Broader Effects: Promotes collaborative problem-solving, which could accelerate safety innovations and lower industry compliance costs through agreed-upon solutions, but may slow regulatory processes if consensus is hard to reach.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Railroad Administration (FRA): Primary beneficiary and overseer, gaining formalized advisory support.
- Railroad Industry: Freight and passenger carriers (including Amtrak), suppliers, and manufacturers, who provide input and must adapt to recommended regulations.
- Labor and Employees: Railroad unions and workers (e.g., engineers, maintenance crews, dispatchers), ensuring their safety concerns are represented.
- Public and Community Groups: Local governments and passenger organizations, influencing rules that affect community safety and service quality.
- Congress: Receives annual reports, allowing oversight of FRA safety priorities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the advisory process under administrative law by embedding stakeholder collaboration in statute, potentially making FRA regulations more defensible in court due to broad input. The FACA partial exemption avoids bureaucratic hurdles while maintaining transparency requirements like public meetings.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8), promoting safety in a critical infrastructure sector without raising separation-of-powers issues, as it enhances rather than overrides executive agency functions.
- Political: Encourages bipartisan support for rail safety by institutionalizing industry-labor-government partnerships, reducing partisan gridlock in rulemaking. It signals a commitment to proactive safety policy amid recent rail incidents, but could face criticism if perceived as industry favoritism over strict enforcement.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-04: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- 2026-02-04: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1987)
- 2026-02-03: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-02-03: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Railroad Safety and Accountability Act — issued 2026-02-03 — PDF (6 pages)