H.R. 2095 - Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007

Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007

H.R. 2095 — 110^th Congress (2007–2008)

Summary

The bill will reauthorize the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and improve safety on the nation's railroads. (by CRS)

Learn More

At OpenCongress

Title

To amend title 49, United States Code, to prevent railroad fatalities, injuries, and hazardous materials releases, to authorize the Federal Railroad Safety Administration, and for other purposes.

Other Titles

• Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007
• Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2007
• Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007
• Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2007
• Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007
• Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2007
• Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2008
• Clean Railroads Act of 2007
• Clean Railroads Act of 2008
• Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008
• Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008

Sponsor

James Oberstar

Co-Sponsors

• Grace Napolitano
• Gwen Moore
• Shelley Capito
• John Mica
• Bob Filner
• Timothy Bishop
• Zachary Space
• R. Miller
• Sheila Jackson-Lee
• Silvestre Reyes
• Dennis Kucinich
• Robert Scott
• Jerrold Nadler
• James McGovern
• Jim Costa
• Raul Grijalva
• Tim Holden
• William Delahunt
• Michael Arcuri
• Christopher Carney
• Christopher Smith
• Robert Wexler
• Sam Farr
• Alcee Hastings
• Melvin Watt
• Dennis Cardoza
• Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
• Keith Ellison
• Jesse Jackson
• Michael Capuano
• Ed Perlmutter
• Daniel Lipinski
• David Obey
• William Shuster
• Timothy Walz
• Edolphus Towns
• Rush Holt
• Charles Gonzalez
• Linda Sánchez
• Bruce Braley
• Stephen Lynch
• David Wu
• Sanford Bishop
• Donald Payne
• Collin Peterson
• Thomas Allen
• Steven LaTourette
• Doris Matsui
• Fortney Stark
• Nick Rahall
• Jerry Costello
• Robert Andrews
• Loretta Sanchez
• Corrine Brown
• David Loebsack
• Frank Pallone
• Neil Abercrombie
• John Yarmuth
• Betty McCollum
• Lynn Woolsey
• Steven Rothman
• Tammy Baldwin
• Phil Hare
• Al Green
• Carolyn Kilpatrick
• Janice Schakowsky
• José Serrano
• Dan Boren
• Alan Mollohan
• Marcy Kaptur
• Mazie Hirono
• Christopher Van Hollen
• Frank LoBiondo
• Steve Cohen
• Albio Sires
• Donald Young
• Thomas Petri
• Brian Higgins
• Robert Brady
• James Moran
• Elijah Cummings
• Leonard Boswell
• Stephanie Jones
• John Lewis
• Michael Doyle
• Brian Baird
• Todd Platts
• Rubén Hinojosa
• Emanuel Cleaver
• William Pascrell
• Darlene Hooley
• George Miller
• Julia Carson
• Patrick Murphy

Subjects

• Transportation
• Accident prevention
• Actions and defenses
• Administrative remedies
• Business
• Civil rights
• Colorado
• Communications
• Congressional reporting requirements
• Criminal justice
• Damages
• Department of Labor
• Department of Transportation
• Disciplining of employees
• Discrimination in employment
• Dismissal of employees
• Emergency communication systems
• Emergency management
• Emergency medicine
• Employee rights
• Employee training
• Employers' liability
• Environmental protection
• Executive departments
• Executive reorganization
• Families
• Family services
• Federal advisory bodies
• Federal employees
• Fines (Penalties)
• Government employees
• Government information
• Government paperwork
• Government procurement
• Government publicity
• Governmental investigations
• Hazardous substances
• Hours of labor
• Job training
• Judicial review
• Labor
• Law
• Licenses
• Limitation of actions
• Maintenance and repair
• Medical care
• Medical supplies
• Medicine
• Occupational health and safety
• Public contracts
• Public service advertising
• Punitive damages
• Railroad commuting traffic
• Railroad employees
• Railroad equipment
• Railroad freight operations
• Railroad passenger traffic
• Railroad safety
• Railroads
• Research and development facilities
• Right-of-way
• Safety appliances
• Science policy
• State and local government
• State laws
• Telecommunication
• Telephone
• Traffic accidents and safety
• Traffic signs and signals
• Transportation of hazardous substances
• Transportation planning
• Transportation research
• Tunnels
• Wage restitution
• Whistle blowing

Related Bills

• H.Res. 724 (110^th) : Providing for Consideration of the Bill (H.R. 2095) to Amend Title 49, United States Code, to Prevent Railroad Fatalities, Injuries, and Hazardous Materials Releases, to Authorize the Federal Railroad Safety Administration, and for Other Purposes.
• H.Res. 1492 (110^th) : Clean Railroads Act of 2008
• S. 1889 (110^th) : Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2007
• S. 1889 (110^th) : Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2007
• S. 1889 (110^th) : Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2007

Major Actions

Introduced	5/01/2007
Referred to Committee
Amendments (10 proposed)
Passed House	10/17/2007
Passed Senate	8/01/2008
Signed by President	10/16/2008

Bill History

• All Votes
• All Actions
• Amendments

	Chamber/Committee	Motion	Date	Result
select this vote	House	On agreeing to the Oberstar amendment (A001) Agreed to by voice vote.	10/17/2007	PASSED by voice vote
select this vote	House	On agreeing to the Napolitano amendment (A002) Agreed to by voice vote.	10/17/2007	PASSED by voice vote
select this vote	House	On agreeing to the Pallone amendment (A003) Agreed to by voice vote.	10/17/2007	PASSED by voice vote
select this vote	House	On agreeing to the Rohrabacher amendment (A004) Agreed to by voice vote.	10/17/2007	PASSED by voice vote
select this vote	House	On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H.R. 2095 Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act	10/17/2007	This motion DID NOT PASS the House 198 voted YES 222 voted NO 11 voted present/not voting
select this vote	House	On Passage - House - H.R. 2095 Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act	10/17/2007	This bill PASSED the House 377 voted YES 38 voted NO 16 voted present/not voting
currently selected	Senate	Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.	8/01/2008	PASSED by voice vote
select this vote	Senate	Amendment SA 5259 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.	8/01/2008	PASSED by voice vote
select this vote	Senate	Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Concur in the House Amdt. to the Senate Amdt. to H.R. 2095	9/29/2008	This motion PASSED the Senate 69 voted YES 17 voted NO 14 voted present/not voting
select this vote	Senate	Motion to Concur in the House Amdt. To the Senate Amdt. to H.R. 2095	10/02/2008	This motion PASSED the Senate 74 voted YES 24 voted NO 2 voted present/not voting

	Action	Date	Description
	Introduced	5/01/2007
		5/01/2007	Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
		5/02/2007	Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E916-917)
		5/02/2007	Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
		5/10/2007	Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1015-1017)
		5/22/2007	Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
		5/22/2007	Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
		6/14/2007	Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
	Put on a legislative calendar	6/14/2007	Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
		9/19/2007	Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 110-336.
	Put on a legislative calendar	9/19/2007	Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 208.
		10/10/2007	Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 724 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2095 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against the consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now printed in the bill.
		10/17/2007	Rule H. Res. 724 passed House.
		10/17/2007	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 724.
		10/17/2007	Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2095 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against the consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now printed in the bill.
		10/17/2007	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 724 and Rule XVIII.
		10/17/2007	The Speaker designated the Honorable Earl Pomeroy to act as Chairman of the Committee.
		10/17/2007	GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2095.
		10/17/2007	DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 724, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Oberstar amendment.
		10/17/2007	Amendment (A001) offered by Mr. Oberstar.
select this vote	Vote	10/17/2007	On agreeing to the Oberstar amendment (A001) Agreed to by voice vote.
		10/17/2007	DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 724, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Napolitano amendment.
		10/17/2007	Amendment (A002) offered by Mrs. Napolitano.
select this vote	Vote	10/17/2007	On agreeing to the Napolitano amendment (A002) Agreed to by voice vote.
		10/17/2007	DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 724, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pallone amendment.
		10/17/2007	Amendment (A003) offered by Mr. Pallone.
select this vote	Vote	10/17/2007	On agreeing to the Pallone amendment (A003) Agreed to by voice vote.
		10/17/2007	Amendment (A004) offered by Mr. Rohrabacher.
		10/17/2007	DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 724, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rohrabacher amendment.
select this vote	Vote	10/17/2007	On agreeing to the Rohrabacher amendment (A004) Agreed to by voice vote.
		10/17/2007	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2095.
		10/17/2007	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
		10/17/2007	The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
		10/17/2007	Mr. Sali moved to recommit with instructions to Transportation.
		10/17/2007	DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Sali motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with amendments that strike "Federal Railroad Safety Administration" each place it appears and insert "Federal Railroad Administration"; and insert a new section regarding funding limitation.
		10/17/2007	The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
		10/17/2007	The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 2095.
select this vote	Vote	10/17/2007	On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H.R. 2095 Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act
select this vote	House Vote on Passage	10/17/2007	On Passage - House - H.R. 2095 Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act
		10/18/2007	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
		8/01/2008	Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
		8/01/2008	Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
currently selected	Senate Vote on Passage	8/01/2008	Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
		8/01/2008	Message on Senate action sent to the House.
		8/01/2008	Amendment SA 5259 proposed by Senator Cantwell for Senator Lautenberg.
select this vote	Vote	8/01/2008	Amendment SA 5259 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
		9/24/2008	House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment pursuant to H.Res. 1492.
		9/25/2008	Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment.
		9/27/2008	Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
		9/27/2008	Motion to concur in House amendment to Senate amendment made in Senate.
		9/27/2008	Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to Senate amendment presented in Senate.
		9/27/2008	Motion to concur in House amendment to Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 5677) made in Senate.
		9/27/2008	Amendment SA 5677 proposed by Senator Reid.
		9/27/2008	Amendment SA 5678 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 5677.
		9/29/2008	Considered by Senate.
		9/29/2008	Considered by Senate.
		9/29/2008	Considered by Senate.
select this vote	Vote	9/29/2008	Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Concur in the House Amdt. to the Senate Amdt. to H.R. 2095
		9/30/2008	Considered by Senate.
		9/30/2008	Considered by Senate.
		9/30/2008	Considered by Senate.
		10/01/2008	Considered by Senate.
		10/01/2008	Motion to concur in House amendment to Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 5677) withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
	Presented to President	10/01/2008	Cleared for White House.
		10/01/2008	Considered by Senate.
		10/01/2008	Proposed amendment SA 5677 withdrawn in Senate.
		10/01/2008	SA 5678 fell when Amendment SA 5677 was withdrawn.
		10/01/2008	Considered by Senate.
select this vote	Vote	10/02/2008	Motion to Concur in the House Amdt. To the Senate Amdt. to H.R. 2095
		10/02/2008	Message on Senate action sent to the House.
	Presented to President	10/06/2008	Presented to President.
	Signed	10/16/2008	Signed by President.
	Enacted	10/16/2008	Became Public Law No: 110-432.

	Number	Sponsor	Date Offered	Status
select this vote	H. Amdt. 856	Oberstar, James [D-MN8]	October 17, 2007	Passed by voice vote on October 17, 2007.
	Amendment requires the Federal Railroad Safety Administration to issue regulations requiring owners of track carried on one or more railroad bridges to adopt safety practices to prevent the deterioration of railroad bridges and reduce the risk of human casualties, environmental damage, and disruption to the Nation's transportation system that would result from a catastrophic bridge failure. The amendment also strikes Sections 301, 610, and 616 of the reported bill because these sections were enacted in Public Law 110-53, the "Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007." The amendment would also require the Secretary to consider additional criteria regarding communities when reviewing applications for a waiver or exemption from sounding locomotive horns at highway-rail grade crossings. Show amendment details
select this vote	H. Amdt. 857	Napolitano, Grace [D-CA38]	October 17, 2007	Passed by voice vote on October 17, 2007.
	Amendment prohibits mechanical and brake inspections performed in Mexico of rail cars entering the United States from satisfying U.S. rail safety laws unless inspection standards, enforcement standards, and worker training are certified to meet those of the United States. It prohibits hazardous material inspections performed in Mexico from satisfying applicable U.S. rail safety laws and regulations. Show amendment details
select this vote	H. Amdt. 858	Pallone, Frank [D-NJ6]	October 17, 2007	Passed by voice vote on October 17, 2007.
	Amendment allows state and local authorities to regulate solid waste management facilities. This amendment would state that the Surface Transportation Board does not have exclusive authority to preempt state and local regulation of solid waste management facilities, as defined in the amendment. Show amendment details
select this vote	H. Amdt. 859	Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA46]	October 17, 2007	Passed by voice vote on October 17, 2007.
	Amendment authorizes funds to the Secretary to design and develop a pilot electric cargo conveyor system for the transportation of containers from ports to depots outside of urban areas. Show amendment details
select this vote	S. Amdt. 5259	Lautenberg, Frank [D-NJ]	August 1, 2008	Passed by voice vote on July 31, 2008.
	In the nature of a substitute. Show amendment details
	S. Amdt. 5677	Reid, Harry [D-NV]	September 27, 2008	Withdrawn on September 30, 2008.
	To establish the enactment date. Show amendment details
	S. Amdt. 5678	Reid, Harry [D-NV]	September 27, 2008	Offered on September 26, 2008.
	Of a perfecting nature. Show amendment details
	S. Amdt. 5680	Coburn, Thomas [R-OK]	September 29, 2008	Offered on September 28, 2008.
	Amendment information not available. Show amendment details
	S. Amdt. 5681	Coburn, Thomas [R-OK]	September 29, 2008	Offered on September 28, 2008.
	Amendment information not available. Show amendment details
	S. Amdt. 5682	Coburn, Thomas [R-OK]	September 29, 2008	Offered on September 28, 2008.
	Amendment information not available. Show amendment details