All Aboard Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2520
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-15T07:03:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The All Aboard Act of 2025 aims to modernize and expand the U.S. rail system by promoting electrification, zero-emission technologies, high-performance passenger rail, and workforce development. It focuses on reducing air pollution, improving rail capacity and safety, addressing environmental justice concerns, and building climate-resilient infrastructure to support sustainable transportation and economic growth.
Key Provisions
- State Rail Formula Grant Program (Section 3): Establishes a formula-based grant program administered by the Secretary of Transportation (through the Federal Railroad Administration, or FRA) to fund state rail plans, operations, maintenance, and expansion. States must report on strategies for expanding passenger rail (including high-performance routes) and electrifying freight and passenger lines. Goals include achieving zero-emission locomotives by 2047, 50% zero-emission trains by 2030, and climate-resilient infrastructure. Funds can be used for staffing, interstate projects, infrastructure improvements, operations, and grant applications. Each state receives at least $5 million annually for 5 years; total authorization: $3.5 billion from FY 2026–2030. Technical assistance is provided by FRA, EPA, Department of Energy, Amtrak, and Federal Transit Administration.
- Green Railroads Fund (Section 4): Creates a competitive grant program for electrified rail projects, prioritizing reductions in air pollution (e.g., particulate matter, nitrogen oxides) in environmental justice communities (disadvantaged areas with higher pollution risks affecting low-income, communities of color, or Tribal groups). Eligible entities include states, Amtrak, railroads, tribes, utilities, and nonprofits. Applications require public engagement plans, environmental safeguards, wage/apprenticeship details, and workforce transition plans to avoid job displacement. Uses include purchasing rights-of-way, upgrading locomotives, installing electrification (e.g., overhead wires or battery tech), building resilient infrastructure, and community outreach. Projects must use project labor agreements (collective bargaining for construction) and two-person crews for freight. A study on co-locating electric transmission lines with rail is required within 180 days of enactment. Total authorization: $50 billion from FY 2026–2030.
- Expansion of Passenger Rail Programs (Section 5): Increases funding and priorities for existing programs:
- Federal-State Intercity Partnership: $80 billion; prioritizes high-performance rail (fast, reliable service competing with air travel) and electrification.
- Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI): $30 billion; expands eligibility to Class I railroads for electrification if partnered with public entities and using labor agreements; adds zero-emission projects (e.g., electrifying yards, buying rolling stock).
- Amtrak: $30 billion, including $5 billion for climate resilience (e.g., flood/heat protections).
- Railroad Crossing Elimination: $10 billion for safer crossings.
- Restoration and Enhancement: $1 billion for service improvements.
Allows federal grants to cover non-federal cost shares and mandates half of highway-rail crossing funds for protective devices (e.g., gates, signals).
- Rail Air Pollution Grant Program (Section 6): Directs the EPA to award grants under the Clean Air Act to mitigate railyard pollution (e.g., emissions from idling trains). Total authorization: $500 million from FY 2026–2030.
- Labor Protections and Workforce Development (Section 7): Applies existing rail labor laws (e.g., buy America requirements, prevailing wages under Davis-Bacon Act) to all grants. Deems certain passenger rail operators and contractors as "rail carriers" for retirement, labor relations, and unemployment benefits under key rail laws, but exempts construction firms from these for non-rail-specific work. Establishes two training centers (Passenger Rail and Freight Rail Workforce Training Centers) for skills in zero-emission tech, safety, and career pathways, partnering with unions and Amtrak. Programs address skill gaps, apprenticeships, and recruiting underrepresented groups. Total authorization: $500 million from FY 2026–2030.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Title 49 U.S. Code (e.g., sections 24911, 22907) to prioritize electrification and high-performance rail in grant selections, expand CRISI eligibility to private railroads under strict conditions (e.g., labor partnerships), and require workforce transition plans and community engagement for electrification projects.
- Modifies Title 23 U.S. Code (section 130) to allocate at least 50% of railway-highway crossing funds to protective devices.
- Introduces new definitions (e.g., "zero-emission locomotive" as one producing no pollutants or greenhouse gases; "electrification infrastructure" as wires or batteries for powering trains).
- Adds cross-program benefits: Green Fund recipients get priority in other rail grants, and Amtrak/states can use federal funds for cost shares in highway/rail programs.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases funding and administrative duties for the Department of Transportation (DOT)/FRA (e.g., grant management, technical assistance, studies) and EPA (pollution grants), potentially straining resources but advancing climate goals. Authorizes over $206.5 billion total, requiring new coordination (e.g., interagency task force for transmission-rail co-location).
- Citizens: Improves access to faster, greener passenger rail, reducing travel times and flight reliance; enhances safety at crossings and health in polluted areas (e.g., lower emissions in railyards benefiting nearby residents). Creates jobs through training and labor rules, but may raise costs for electrification.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though expanded U.S. rail capacity could influence trade corridors; no foreign policy provisions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and Local Governments: Receive formula grants and competitive funding; must develop plans and engage communities.
- Rail Industry: Amtrak, Class I/II/III railroads, manufacturers benefit from infrastructure/electrification funds but face labor mandates and electrification timelines.
- Workers and Unions: Protected by prevailing wages, two-person crews, apprenticeships, and training centers; nonprofit labor organizations partner in programs.
- Communities: Environmental justice, Tribal, and low-income groups prioritized for pollution reduction and reconnection (e.g., via grade separations); public input required.
- Tribes and Utilities: Eligible for grants; tribes gain from inclusive definitions of "state."
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens labor and environmental standards by mandating project labor agreements and Davis-Bacon wages, potentially reducing disputes but increasing project costs. The workforce deeming provision applies rail-specific benefits selectively, balancing industry expansion with protections without broadly altering contractor status.
- Constitutional: Falls under Congress's Commerce Clause authority over interstate rail/transportation; promotes equal protection by targeting environmental justice communities, aligning with executive orders on equity.
- Political: Advances Biden-era climate/infrastructure agendas (e.g., zero emissions by 2047 supports Paris Agreement goals) and union priorities, but large authorizations may spark debates on federal spending/deficits. Could face challenges from freight railroads over electrification mandates or priorities favoring passenger rail.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (10)
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- All Aboard Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (31 pages)