Legislation introduced in Congress by U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Hoeven (R-ND) seeks to make protections for passenger rail crewmembers similar to those afforded to flight crew members.
The legislation, the Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act, would make it a federal drive to interfere with intercity and passenger rail crew members, just like it is a federal crime to interfere with flight crews. The legislation establishes a uniform criminal prohibition to assaulting or intimidating “engineers, conductors, onboard personnel, employees performing safety-sensitive functions and other personnel responsible for operations, functions or customer service at a rail station.”
“No one in America should experience what my constituent Michael Case endured when he was shot and critically injured simply for performing his job as an Amtrak conductor,” Duckworth said. “Congress rightfully recognized decades ago that flight crew members deserved uniform legal protections against assault and intimidation, and it’s past time we grant our passenger rail crew members with the same legal protections that apply to flight crews.”
The legislation is supported by SMART Union, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO (TWU), Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU) and the American Association of Railroads (AAR).
“There’s no justification for abusing, threatening or assaulting onboard service workers just doing their job,” John Feltz, Transport Workers Union Railroad Division Director said. “No one should have to worry as they head to work that they might wind up in the emergency room or worse. This bill rightly extends federal protection to this vital workforce and should be adopted without delay.”