WASHINGTON — U.S. Reps. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) have introduced the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act, which includes components of the never-passed Railway Safety Act of 2024.
Many elements of the bill introduced on Wednesday, Feb. 25, parallel those in the Railway Safety Act of 2026, introduced in the Senate on Tuesday [see “Senators introduce new version …,” Trains.com, Feb. 24, 2026].
Notable additions include a requirement that all Class I railroads and Amtrak enroll in the Confidential Close Call Reporting System; $25 million for grants to improve connectivity in rural areas for the ASKRAIL app, which provides first responders with information on hazardous materials; and an additional $1 billion for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant program, on top of the money already allocated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“As a member of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials subcommittee, I am proud to work with Congressman Seth Moulton to introduce the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026,” Nehls said in a press release. “This bipartisan legislation enhances safety programs and modernizes critical protections to ensure our rail infrastructure operates safely and efficiently. I appreciate Congressman Moulton’s partnership on this bipartisan effort, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move this legislation forward.”
Said Moulton, “Every community that a freight train passes through — such as East Palestine, Ohio — deserves to know that strong safety standards are in place, especially when hazardous materials are onboard. Our bipartisan legislation will strengthen inspections, improve emergency preparedness, and modernize safety requirements so that we can better protect families, workers, and communities across the country. This industry is the lifeblood of American commerce and a major source of jobs, but it can and must be better.”
The full text of the bill is available here.
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