U.S. Rep Chris Deluzio (D-PA) said his legislation, the Railway Safety Act, had been added as an amendment to the BUILD America 250 Act.
Deluzio, who represents the Pennsylvania region impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, OH, introduced the Railway Safety Act in 2023. The bill was added to the must-pass Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th, or BUILD 250 Act, the legislation that reauthorizes surface transportation spending.
“The people of Beaver County and East Palestine have waited long enough,” Deluzio said. “I am so proud that my bill, the Railway Safety Act, passed out of committee with bipartisan support. Let’s get this bill passed and signed into law.”
According to Deluzio’s office, Congress has not passed any rail safety legislation since the February 2023 East Palestine derailment. His bill would mandate the use of defect detection technology and require hotbox detector placements an average of every 15 miles; improve emergency response by notifying states about the hazardous materials being moved by freight rail through their communities; expand the list of hazardous materials that require higher safety standards; prevent improper railcar inspections and add requirements to ensure railcars are properly maintained; and increase civil penalties for rail safety law violations.
The legislation would also require a minimum of two crewmembers to operate a train, would ensure firefighters are made whole after responding to major derailments by allowing the U.S. Department of Transportation to reimburse first responders for overtimes, equipment costs and health care assessments, and would expand the existing Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grants to allow fire departments to buy the personal protective gear necessary to keep firefighters safe.
Deluzio worked with U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) to get the Nehls-Deluzio amendment, which inserted the Railway Safety Act into the bill, passed.
The legislation is supported by many of the unions representing America’s rail workers.