‘‘§ 20159. Track safety 
‘‘(a) RAIL
INTEGRITY.—(1) Not later than 12 
months after the date of enactment of the Federal Rail-
road Safety Improvement Act of 2007, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall prescribe regulations to require rail-
road carriers to manage the rail in their tracks so as to 
minimize accidents due to internal rail flaws. The regula-
tions shall, at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) require railroad carriers to conduct ultra-
sonic or other appropriate inspections to ensure that 
rail used to replace defective segments of existing 
rail is free from internal defects; 
‘‘(B) require railroad carriers to perform rail 
integrity inspections to manage a service failure rate 
of less than .1 per track mile; and 
‘‘(C) encourage railroad carrier use of advanced 
rail defect inspection equipment and similar tech-
nologies as part of a comprehensive rail inspection 
program. 
‘‘(2) In carrying out paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary 
shall set priorities for performing rail integrity inspec-
tions, with particular emphasis on high-risk corridors such 
as those that have significant movements of hazardous 
materials or where commuter and intercity passenger rail-
roads operate. 
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‘‘(b) CONCRETE CROSSTIES.—Not later than 12 
months after the date of enactment of the Federal Rail-
road Safety Improvement Act of 2007, the Secretary shall 
develop and implement regulations for all classes of track 
for concrete crossties that address, at a minimum— 
‘‘(1) limits for rail seat abrasion; 
‘‘(2) concrete crosstie pad wear limits; 
‘‘(3) missing or broken rail fasteners; 
‘‘(4) loss of appropriate toeload pressure; 
‘‘(5) improper fastener configurations; and 
‘‘(6) excessive lateral rail movement.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF SECTIONS AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections of subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘20159. Track safety.’’. 
SEC. 604. CERTIFICATION OF CONDUCTORS. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Subchapter II of chapter 201 of 
title 49, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 20160. Certification of conductors 
‘‘(a) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of the Federal Railroad Safety Im-
provement Act of 2007, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall prescribe regulations and issue orders to establish 
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a program requiring the certification of train conductors. 
In prescribing such regulations, the Secretary shall require 
that conductors on passenger trains be trained in security, 
first aid, and emergency preparedness. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM DESIGN.—The program established 
under this section shall be designed based on the require-
ments of section 20135(b) through (e).’’. 
(b) TABLE OF SECTIONS AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections of subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘20160. Certification of conductors.’’. 
SEC. 605. MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Subchapter II of chapter 201 of 
title 49, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 20161. Minimum training standards 
‘‘The Secretary of Transportation shall, not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Federal 
Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007, establish— 
‘‘(1) minimum training standards for each craft 
of railroad employees, which shall require railroad 
carriers to qualify or otherwise document the pro-
ficiency of their employees in each craft regarding 
their knowledge of, and ability to comply with, Fed-
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eral railroad safety laws and regulations and rail-
road carrier rules and procedures promulgated to 
implement those Federal railroad safety laws and 
regulations; and 
‘‘(2) a requirement for railroad carriers to sub-
mit their training and qualification programs to the 
Federal Railroad Safety Administration for ap-
proval.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF SECTIONS AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections of subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘20161. Minimum training standards.’’. 
SEC. 606. PROMPT MEDICAL ATTENTION. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Subchapter II of chapter 201 of 
title 49, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 20162. Prompt medical attention 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—A railroad or person covered 
under this title shall not deny, delay, or interfere with the 
medical or first aid treatment of an employee who is in-
jured during the course of employment. If transportation 
to a hospital is requested by an employee who is injured 
during the course of employment, the railroad shall 
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promptly arrange to have the injured employee trans-
ported to the requested hospital. 
‘‘(b) DISCIPLINE.—A railroad or person covered 
under this title shall not discipline, or threaten discipline 
to, an employee for requesting medical or first aid treat-
ment, or for following orders or a treatment plan of a 
treating physician. For purposes of this subsection, dis-
cipline means to bring charges against a person in a dis-
ciplinary proceeding, suspend, terminate, place on proba-
tion, or make note of reprimand on an employee’s 
record.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF SECTIONS AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections of subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘20162. Prompt medical attention.’’. 
SEC. 607. EMERGENCY ESCAPE BREATHING APPARATUS. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Subchapter II of chapter 201 of 
title 49, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 20163. Emergency escape breathing apparatus 
‘‘Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment 
of the Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations 
that require railroads to— 
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