American Electric Rail Mapping Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9213
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T22:25:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation directs the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to conduct a study assessing the feasibility of electrifying passenger and freight rail corridors nationwide.
Key Provisions
- Requires the FRA Administrator, through the Office of Research, Data, and Innovation, to identify existing and planned rail corridors, determine current power sources for each rail system, classify railroads as Class I, II, or III, and pinpoint segments suitable for electrification or clean rail technologies.
- Mandates consultation with railroad owners and operators, state and local governments, Tribes, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and other relevant entities.
- Directs the use of existing FRA resources to limit new spending.
- Requires an initial progress report to Congress within one year of enactment and a final report within one year after the progress report.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces no amendments to current statutes; it establishes a new, one-time study requirement on rail electrification without altering regulatory frameworks or funding mechanisms.
Potential Impacts
- Primarily affects the FRA by requiring allocation of staff and resources for data collection and analysis.
- May inform future policy decisions for railroad companies, state and local governments, and Tribes regarding infrastructure investments.
- Limited direct effects on citizens or international relations, though results could influence domestic transportation and environmental planning.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Railroad Administration and its research office.
- Railroad owners, operators, and freight/passenger rail systems.
- State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments.
- Entities involved in rail corridor planning and clean technology adoption.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure raises no significant constitutional or legal issues, as it relies on existing agency authority and does not create new regulatory powers or mandates. It remains a non-binding research initiative with no enforcement mechanisms.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- American Electric Rail Mapping Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-09 — PDF (3 pages)