Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8894
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T08:06:06Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation establishes federal criminal penalties for assault or intimidation of passenger train crew members, modeled on existing protections for aircraft crew members under federal law. Its goal is to deter interference with rail operations and ensure consistent prosecution across transportation modes.
Key Provisions
- Adds Section 28104 to Chapter 281 of Title 49, United States Code, creating a new federal offense for assaulting or interfering with crew members.
- Defines crew member to include engineers, conductors, onboard personnel, safety-sensitive employees, and station staff involved in ticketing, boarding, or baggage.
- Defines passenger train as those in intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation.
- Prohibits assault that interferes with crew duties, or attempts/conspiracies to commit such acts, when occurring onboard a train in operation, on a serving platform, or in a rail station.
- Sets base penalties of fines, up to 6 months imprisonment, or both.
- Provides aggravated penalties: up to 1 year for striking or wounding; up to 10 years for intent to commit other felonies, use of a dangerous weapon, intent to cause bodily harm, or causing serious bodily injury; and up to 20 years for intent to commit murder.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill introduces new federal criminal jurisdiction over interference with passenger rail crew members, which previously lacked a dedicated statute comparable to aviation protections. It expands Title 49 by adding a specific offense section and updates the table of sections accordingly, aligning rail with air transportation standards without altering other existing rail or criminal laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Increases federal prosecutorial and investigative responsibilities for the Department of Justice and rail-related agencies, potentially requiring additional resources for enforcement on trains and stations.
- Citizens: Enhances protections for rail crew members and may improve passenger safety by deterring disruptive behavior.
- International relations: No direct effects identified, as the bill focuses exclusively on domestic U.S. rail operations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Passenger train crew members and rail station employees.
- Rail operators and companies providing intercity or commuter service.
- Passengers and the traveling public.
- Federal law enforcement, prosecutors, and the judiciary.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill extends federal authority over rail transportation under Congress's commerce powers, creating parity between rail and aviation sectors. It introduces graduated penalties based on conduct severity, consistent with other federal assault statutes. The measure was introduced on a bipartisan basis and referred to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Judiciary.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (4 pages)