I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7237 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program 
to construct barriers near rail lines that are adjacent to a residential 
structure, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 5, 2024 
Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a 
grant program to construct barriers near rail lines that 
are adjacent to a residential structure, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Homes 
from Trains Act of 2024’’. 
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SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM TO CONSTRUCT BARRIERS NEAR 
RAIL LINES ADJACENT TO A RESIDENTIAL 
STRUCTURE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary 
of Transportation shall establish a program to provide 
grants to eligible recipients to design or construct a bar-
rier to mitigate rail activity that may negatively impact 
a residential structure or its use, including— 
(1) damage caused by a train derailment; 
(2) noise caused by a train; and 
(3) vibrations caused by a train. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—A grant provided under this 
section may be used to design or construct a barrier lo-
cated— 
(1) adjacent to a rail line; and 
(2) between the rail line and any residential 
area that— 
(A) includes structures; and 
(B) is affected, or potentially affected, by 
any rail activity described in subsection (a). 
(c) ELIGIBLE
RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary may 
make a grant under the program established in subsection 
(a) to the following: 
(1) A State. 
(2) A group of States. 
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(3) An Interstate Compact. 
(4) A public agency or publicly chartered au-
thority established by one or more States. 
(5) A political subdivision of a State. 
(6) Amtrak or another rail carrier that provides 
intercity rail passenger transportation. 
(7) A Class II railroad or Class III railroad or 
a holding company of a Class II or Class III rail-
road, or an association representing a Class II or III 
railroad. 
(8) Any rail carrier in partnership with one or 
more entities described in paragraphs (1) through 
(5). 
(d) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for a grant under 
the program established in subsection (a), an entity de-
scribed in subsection (c) shall submit to the Secretary an 
application in such form, at such time, and containing 
such information as the Secretary determines appropriate. 
(e) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘State’’ means each of the several States, the District of 
Columbia, and each commonwealth, territory, or posses-
sion of the United States. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program 
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