(2) test new emergency response techniques and 
technologies; 
(3) develop improved freight technologies, in-
cluding— 
(A) technologies for sealing rail cars; 
(B) automatic inspection of rail cars; and 
(C) communication-based train controls; 
(4) test wayside detectors that can detect tam-
pering with railroad equipment; 
(5) support enhanced security for the transpor-
tation of hazardous materials by rail, including— 
(A) technologies to detect a breach in a 
tank car and transmit information about the in-
tegrity of tank cars to the train crew; 
(B) research to improve tank car integrity; 
and 
(C) techniques to transfer hazardous mate-
rials from rail cars that are damaged or other-
wise represent an unreasonable risk to human 
life or public safety; and 
(6) other projects recommended in the report 
required by section 101. 
(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER RESEARCH INITIA-
TIVES.—The Secretary shall ensure that the research and 
development program authorized by this section is coordi-
nated with other research and development initiatives at 
the Department of Homeland Security, the Department 
of Transportation, and other Federal agencies. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
$50,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to 
carry out the purposes of this section. Amounts appro-
priated pursuant to this subsection shall remain available 
until expended. 
SEC. 105. RAIL WORKER SECURITY TRAINING PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with appropriate law enforcement, security, and ter-
rorism experts, representatives of railroad carriers, and 
nonprofit employee organizations that represent rail work-
ers, shall develop and issue detailed guidance for a rail 
worker security training program to prepare rail workers 
for potential threat conditions. 
(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The guidance developed 
under subsection (a) shall require such a program to in-
clude, at a minimum, elements that address the following: 
(1) Determination of the seriousness of any oc-
currence. 
(2) Crew and passenger communication and co-
ordination.
(3) Appropriate responses to defend oneself. 
(4) Use of protective devices. 
(5) Evacuation procedures. 
(6) Live situational training exercises regarding 
various threat conditions, including tunnel evacu-
ation procedures. 
(7) Any other subject the Secretary considers 
appropriate. 
(c) RAILROAD CARRIER PROGRAMS.—Not later than 
60 days after the Secretary issues guidance under sub-
section (a) in final form, each railroad carrier shall develop 
a rail worker security training program in accordance with 
that guidance and submit it to the Secretary for approval. 
Not later than 60 days after receiving a railroad carrier’s 
program under this subsection, the Secretary shall review 
the program and approve it or require the railroad carrier 
to make any revisions the Secretary considers necessary 
for the program to meet the guidance requirements. 
(d) TRAINING.—Not later than 1 year after the Sec-
retary approves the training program developed by a rail-
road carrier under this section, the railroad carrier shall 
complete the training of all rail workers in accordance with 
that program. 
(e) UPDATES.—The Secretary shall update the train-
ing guidance issued under subsection (a) from time to
time to reflect new or different security threats, and re-
quire railroad carriers to revise their programs accordingly 
and provide additional training to their rail workers. 
SEC. 106. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 201 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 20115 the following: 
‘‘§ 20116. Whistleblower protection for railroad secu-
rity matters 
‘‘(a) DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST
EMPLOYEE.—No 
railroad carrier engaged in interstate or foreign commerce 
may discharge a railroad employee or otherwise discrimi-
nate against a railroad employee because the employee (or 
any person acting pursuant to a request of the em-
ployee)— 
‘‘(1) provided, caused to be provided, or is 
about to provide or cause to be provided, to the em-
ployer or the Federal Government information relat-
ing to a perceived threat to security; 
‘‘(2) provided, caused to be provided, or is 
about to provide or cause to be provided, testimony 
before Congress or at any Federal or State pro-
ceeding regarding a perceived threat to security;
‘‘(3) has assisted or participated, or is about to 
assist or participate, in any manner in a proceeding 
or any other action to enhance railroad security; or 
‘‘(4) refused to violate or assist in the violation 
of any law, rule, or regulation related to railroad se-
curity. 
‘‘(b) ENFORCEMENT ACTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A person who alleges dis-
charge or other discrimination by any person in vio-
lation of subsection (a) may seek relief under sub-
section (c) by— 
‘‘(A) filing a complaint with the Secretary 
of Labor; or 
‘‘(B) if the Secretary of Labor has not 
issued a final decision within 180 days of the 
filing of the complaint and there is no showing 
that such delay is due to the bad faith of the 
claimant, bringing an action at law or equity 
for de novo review in the appropriate district 
court of the United States, which shall have ju-
risdiction over such an action without regard to 
the amount in controversy. 
‘‘(2) PROCEDURE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An action under para-
graph (1)(A) shall be governed under the rules
and procedures set forth in section 42121(b) of 
this title. 
‘‘(B) 
EXCEPTION.—Notification 
made 
under section 42121(b)(1) of this title, shall be 
made to the person named in the complaint and 
to the employer. 
‘‘(C) BURDENS
OF
PROOF.—An action 
brought under paragraph (1)(B) shall be gov-
erned by the legal burdens of proof set forth in 
section 42121(b) this title. 
‘‘(D) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.—An ac-
tion under paragraph (1)(A) shall be com-
menced not later than 90 days after the date on 
which the violation occurs. 
‘‘(c) REMEDIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An employee prevailing in 
any action under subsection (b)(1) shall be entitled 
to all relief necessary to make the employee whole. 
‘‘(2) COMPENSATORY DAMAGES.—Relief for any 
action under paragraph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) reinstatement with the same seniority 
status that the employee would have had, but 
for the discrimination; 
‘‘(B) the amount of back pay, with inter-
est; and
‘‘(C) compensation for any special damages 
sustained as a result of the discrimination, in-
cluding litigation costs, expert witness fees, and 
reasonable attorney fees. 
‘‘(d) RIGHTS RETAINED BY EMPLOYEE.—Except as 
provided in subsection (e), nothing in this section shall be 
deemed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of 
any employee under any Federal or State law, or under 
any collective bargaining agreement. 
‘‘(e) ELECTION OF REMEDIES.—An employee of a 
railroad carrier may not seek protection under both this 
section and another provision of law for the same allegedly 
unlawful act of the railroad carrier. 
‘‘(f) DISCLOSURE OF IDENTITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), without the written consent of the em-
ployee, the Secretary of Labor may not disclose the 
name of an employee of a railroad carrier who has 
provided information about an alleged violation of 
this section. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary of Labor 
shall disclose to the Attorney General the name of 
an employee described in paragraph (1) of this sub-
section if the matter is referred to the Attorney Gen-
eral for enforcement.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
20115 the following: 
‘‘20116. Whistleblower protection for railroad security matters.’’. 
SEC. 107. PUBLIC OUTREACH. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a national plan 
for public outreach and awareness. Such plan shall be de-
signed to increase awareness of measures that the general 
public, railroad passengers, and railroad employees can 
take to increase railroad system security. Such plan shall 
also provide outreach to railroad carriers and their em-
ployees to improve their awareness of available tech-
nologies, ongoing research and development efforts, and 
available Federal funding sources to improve railroad se-
curity. Not later than 9 months after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall implement the plan 
developed under this section. 
SEC. 108. PASSENGER, BAGGAGE, AND CARGO SCREENING. 
The Secretary shall— 
(1) analyze the cost and feasibility of requiring 
security screening for passengers, baggage, and 
cargo on passenger trains; and 
(2) report the results of the study, together 
with any recommendations that the Secretary may
have for implementing a rail security screening pro-
gram to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure and the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity of the House of Representatives and to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 109. EMERGENCY RESPONDER TRAINING STANDARDS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue 
training standards for persons responsible for responding 
to emergency situations occurring during transportation 
of hazardous materials by rail, in accordance with existing 
regulations, to ensure their ability to protect nearby per-
sons, property, or the environment from the effects of acci-
dents involving hazardous materials. 
SEC. 110. INFORMATION FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall provide grants to Operation Respond Institute for 
the purpose of— 
(1) deploying and expanding the Operation Re-
spond Emergency Information System software; 
(2) developing, implementing, and maintaining 
a railroad infrastructure mapping program that cor-
relates railroad right-of-way information with high-
way grid maps and overhead imagery of traffic 
routes, hazardous materials routes, and commuter 
rail lines; and 
(3) establishing an alert and messaging capa-
bility for use during emergencies involving freight 
and passenger railroads. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Transportation to carry out this section $2,500,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2005, 2006, and 2007. Amounts ap-
propriated pursuant to this subsection shall remain avail-
able until expended. 
SEC. 111. TSA PERSONNEL LIMITATIONS. 
Any statutory limitation on the number of employees 
in the Transportation Security Administration, before or 
after its transfer to the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity, does not apply to the extent that any such employees 
are responsible for implementing the provisions of this 
title. 
SEC. 112. RAIL SAFETY REGULATIONS. 
Section 20103(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘safety’’ the first place it appears, 
and inserting ‘‘safety, including security’’.
SEC. 113. RAIL POLICE OFFICERS. 
Section 28101 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘the rail carrier’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘any rail carrier’’. 
SEC. 114. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this title— 
(1) the terms ‘‘railroad’’ and ‘‘railroad carrier’’ 
have the meaning given those terms in section 
20102 of title 49, United States Code; and 
(2) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Homeland Security, acting through the Under 
Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and 
Transportation Security. 
TITLE II—ASSISTANCE TO 
FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS 
SEC. 201. ASSISTANCE BY NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION 
SAFETY 
BOARD 
TO 
FAMILIES 
OF 
PAS-
SENGERS INVOLVED IN RAIL PASSENGER AC-
CIDENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 11 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 1138. Assistance to families of passengers involved 
in rail passenger accidents 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 
being notified of a rail passenger accident within the
United States involving a rail passenger carrier and result-
ing in a major loss of life, the Chairman of the National 
Transportation Safety Board shall— 
‘‘(1) designate and publicize the name and 
phone number of a director of family support serv-
ices who shall be an employee of the Board and shall 
be responsible for acting as a point of contact within 
the Federal Government for the families of pas-
sengers involved in the accident and a liaison be-
tween the rail passenger carrier and the families; 
and 
‘‘(2) designate an independent nonprofit organi-
zation, with experience in disasters and posttrauma 
communication with families, which shall have pri-
mary responsibility for coordinating the emotional 
care and support of the families of passengers in-
volved in the accident. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD.—The Board 
shall have primary Federal responsibility for— 
‘‘(1) facilitating the recovery and identification 
of fatally injured passengers involved in an accident 
described in subsection (a); and 
‘‘(2) communicating with the families of pas-
sengers involved in the accident as to the roles of—
‘‘(A) the organization designated for an ac-
cident under subsection (a)(2); 
‘‘(B) Government agencies; and 
‘‘(C) the rail passenger carrier involved, 
with respect to the accident and the post-accident 
activities. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF DESIGNATED ORGANIZA-
TION.—The organization designated for an accident under 
subsection (a)(2) shall have the following responsibilities 
with respect to the families of passengers involved in the 
accident: 
‘‘(1) To provide mental health and counseling 
services, in coordination with the disaster response 
team of the rail passenger carrier involved. 
‘‘(2) To take such actions as may be necessary 
to provide an environment in which the families may 
grieve in private. 
‘‘(3) To meet with the families who have trav-
eled to the location of the accident, to contact the 
families unable to travel to such location, and to 
contact all affected families periodically thereafter 
until such time as the organization, in consultation 
with the director of family support services des-
ignated for the accident under subsection (a)(1), de-
termines that further assistance is no longer needed.
‘‘(4) To arrange a suitable memorial service, in 
consultation with the families. 
‘‘(d) PASSENGER LISTS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUESTS FOR PASSENGER LISTS.— 
‘‘(A) REQUESTS BY DIRECTOR OF FAMILY 
SUPPORT SERVICES.—It shall be the responsi-
bility of the director of family support services 
designated for an accident under subsection 
(a)(1) to request, as soon as practicable, from 
the rail passenger carrier involved in the acci-
dent a list, which is based on the best available 
information at the time of the request, of the 
names of the passengers that were aboard the 
rail passenger carrier’s train involved in the ac-
cident. A rail passenger carrier shall use rea-
sonable efforts, with respect to its unreserved 
trains, and passengers not holding reservations 
on its other trains, to ascertain the names of 
passengers aboard a train involved in an acci-
dent. 
‘‘(B) REQUESTS BY DESIGNATED ORGANI-
ZATION.—The organization designated for an 
accident under subsection (a)(2) may request 
from the rail passenger carrier involved in the 
accident a list described in subparagraph (A).
‘‘(2) USE OF INFORMATION.—The director of 
family support services and the organization may 
not release to any person information on a list ob-
tained under paragraph (1) but may provide infor-
mation on the list about a passenger to the family 
of the passenger to the extent that the director of 
family support services or the organization considers 
appropriate. 
‘‘(e) 
CONTINUING
RESPONSIBILITIES
OF
THE 
BOARD.—In the course of its investigation of an accident 
described in subsection (a), the Board shall, to the max-
imum extent practicable, ensure that the families of pas-
sengers involved in the accident— 
‘‘(1) are briefed, prior to any public briefing, 
about the accident and any other findings from the 
investigation; and 
‘‘(2) are individually informed of and allowed to 
attend any public hearings and meetings of the 
Board about the accident. 
‘‘(f) USE
OF
RAIL
PASSENGER
CARRIER
RE-
SOURCES.—To the extent practicable, the organization 
designated for an accident under subsection (a)(2) shall 
coordinate its activities with the rail passenger carrier in-
volved in the accident to facilitate the reasonable use of 
the resources of the carrier.
‘‘(g) PROHIBITED ACTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) ACTIONS
TO
IMPEDE
THE
BOARD.—No 
person (including a State or political subdivision) 
may impede the ability of the Board (including the 
director of family support services designated for an 
accident under subsection (a)(1)), or an organization 
designated for an accident under subsection (a)(2), 
to carry out its responsibilities under this section or 
the ability of the families of passengers involved in 
the accident to have contact with one another. 
‘‘(2) UNSOLICITED COMMUNICATIONS.—No un-
solicited communication concerning a potential ac-
tion for personal injury or wrongful death may be 
made by an attorney (including any associate, agent, 
employee, or other representative of an attorney) or 
any potential party to the litigation to an individual 
(other than an employee of the rail passenger car-
rier) injured in the accident, or to a relative of an 
individual involved in the accident, before the 45th 
day following the date of the accident. 
‘‘(3) PROHIBITION
ON
ACTIONS
TO
PREVENT 
MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVICES.—No 
State or political subdivision may prevent the em-
ployees, agents, or volunteers of an organization des-
ignated for an accident under subsection (a)(2) from
providing mental health and counseling services 
under subsection (c)(1) in the 30-day period begin-
ning on the date of the accident. The director of 
family support services designated for the accident 
under subsection (a)(1) may extend such period for 
not to exceed an additional 30 days if the director 
determines that the extension is necessary to meet 
the needs of the families and if State and local au-
thorities are notified of the determination. 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) RAIL
PASSENGER
ACCIDENT.—The term 
‘rail passenger accident’ means any rail passenger 
disaster occurring in the provision of— 
‘‘(A) interstate intercity rail passenger 
transportation (as such term is defined in sec-
tion 24102); or 
‘‘(B) interstate or intrastate high-speed 
rail (as such term is defined in section 26105) 
transportation, 
regardless of its cause or suspected cause. 
‘‘(2) RAIL
PASSENGER
CARRIER.—The term 
‘rail passenger carrier’ means a rail carrier pro-
viding—
‘‘(A) interstate intercity rail passenger 
transportation (as such term is defined in sec-
tion 24102); or 
‘‘(B) interstate or intrastate high-speed 
rail (as such term is defined in section 26105) 
transportation, 
except that such term shall not include a tourist, 
historic, scenic, or excursion rail carrier. 
‘‘(3) PASSENGER.—The term ‘passenger’ in-
cludes— 
‘‘(A) an employee of a rail passenger car-
rier aboard a train; 
‘‘(B) any other person aboard the train 
without regard to whether the person paid for 
the transportation, occupied a seat, or held a 
reservation for the rail transportation; and 
‘‘(C) any other person injured or killed in 
the accident. 
‘‘(i) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 
Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting the 
actions that a rail passenger carrier may take, or the obli-
gations that a rail passenger carrier may have, in pro-
viding assistance to the families of passengers involved in 
a rail passenger accident.
‘‘(j) RELINQUISHMENT
OF
INVESTIGATIVE
PRI-
ORITY.— 
‘‘(1) GENERAL RULE.—This section (other than 
subsection (g)) shall not apply to a railroad accident 
if the Board has relinquished investigative priority 
under section 1131(a)(2)(B) and the Federal agency 
to which the Board relinquished investigative pri-
ority is willing and able to provide assistance to the 
victims and families of the passengers involved in 
the accident. 
‘‘(2) BOARD ASSISTANCE.—If this section does 
not apply to a railroad accident because the Board 
has relinquished investigative priority with respect to 
the accident, the Board shall assist, to the maximum 
extent possible, the agency to which the Board has 
relinquished investigative priority in assisting fami-
lies with respect to the accident.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 1137 the following: 
‘‘1138. Assistance to families of passengers involved in rail passenger acci-
dents.’’.
SEC. 202. RAIL PASSENGER CARRIER PLANS TO ADDRESS 
NEEDS OF FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS IN-
VOLVED IN RAIL PASSENGER ACCIDENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part C of subtitle V of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new chapter: 
‘‘CHAPTER 251—FAMILY ASSISTANCE 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘25101. Plans to address needs of families of passengers involved in rail pas-
senger accidents. 
‘‘§ 25101. Plans to address needs of families of pas-
sengers involved in rail passenger acci-
dents 
‘‘(a) SUBMISSION OF PLANS.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this section, each 
rail passenger carrier shall submit to the Secretary of 
Transportation and the Chairman of the National Trans-
portation Safety Board a plan for addressing the needs 
of the families of passengers involved in any rail passenger 
accident involving a train of the rail passenger carrier and 
resulting in a major loss of life. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS OF PLANS.—A plan to be submitted 
by a rail passenger carrier under subsection (a) shall in-
clude, at a minimum, the following:
‘‘(1) A plan for publicizing a reliable, toll-free 
telephone number, and for providing staff, to handle 
calls from the families of the passengers. 
‘‘(2) A process for notifying the families of the 
passengers, before providing any public notice of the 
names of the passengers, either by utilizing the serv-
ices of the organization designated for the accident 
under section 1138(a)(2) of this title or the services 
of other suitably trained individuals. 
‘‘(3) An assurance that the notice described in 
paragraph (2) will be provided to the family of a 
passenger as soon as the rail passenger carrier has 
verified that the passenger was aboard the train 
(whether or not the names of all of the passengers 
have been verified) and, to the extent practicable, in 
person. 
‘‘(4) An assurance that the rail passenger car-
rier will provide to the director of family support 
services designated for the accident under section 
1138(a)(1) of this title, and to the organization des-
ignated for the accident under section 1138(a)(2) of 
this title, immediately upon request, a list (which is 
based on the best available information at the time 
of the request) of the names of the passengers 
aboard the train (whether or not such names have
been verified), and will periodically update the list. 
The plan shall include a procedure, with respect to 
unreserved trains and passengers not holding res-
ervations on other trains, for the rail passenger car-
rier to use reasonable efforts to ascertain the names 
of passengers aboard a train involved in an accident. 
‘‘(5) An assurance that the family of each pas-
senger will be consulted about the disposition of all 
remains and personal effects of the passenger within 
the control of the rail passenger carrier. 
‘‘(6) An assurance that if requested by the fam-
ily of a passenger, any possession of the passenger 
within the control of the rail passenger carrier (re-
gardless of its condition) will be returned to the fam-
ily unless the possession is needed for the accident 
investigation or any criminal investigation. 
‘‘(7) An assurance that any unclaimed posses-
sion of a passenger within the control of the rail 
passenger carrier will be retained by the rail pas-
senger carrier for at least 18 months. 
‘‘(8) An assurance that the family of each pas-
senger or other person killed in the accident will be 
consulted about construction by the rail passenger 
carrier of any monument to the passengers, includ-
ing any inscription on the monument.
‘‘(9) An assurance that the treatment of the 
families of nonrevenue passengers will be the same 
as the treatment of the families of revenue pas-
sengers. 
‘‘(10) An assurance that the rail passenger car-
rier will work with any organization designated 
under section 1138(a)(2) of this title on an ongoing 
basis to ensure that families of passengers receive an 
appropriate level of services and assistance following 
each accident. 
‘‘(11) An assurance that the rail passenger car-
rier will provide reasonable compensation to any or-
ganization designated under section 1138(a)(2) of 
this title for services provided by the organization. 
‘‘(12) An assurance that the rail passenger car-
rier will assist the family of a passenger in traveling 
to the location of the accident and provide for the 
physical care of the family while the family is stay-
ing at such location. 
‘‘(13) An assurance that the rail passenger car-
rier will commit sufficient resources to carry out the 
plan. 
‘‘(14) An assurance that the rail passenger car-
rier will provide adequate training to the employees
and agents of the carrier to meet the needs of sur-
vivors and family members following an accident. 
‘‘(15) An assurance that, upon request of the 
family of a passenger, the rail passenger carrier will 
inform the family of whether the passenger’s name 
appeared on any preliminary passenger manifest for 
the train involved in the accident. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.—A rail passenger 
carrier shall not be liable for damages in any action 
brought in a Federal or State court arising out of the per-
formance of the rail passenger carrier in preparing or pro-
viding a passenger list, or in providing information con-
cerning a train reservation, pursuant to a plan submitted 
by the rail passenger carrier under subsection (b), unless 
such liability was caused by conduct of the rail passenger 
carrier which was grossly negligent or which constituted 
intentional misconduct. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
‘‘(1) the terms ‘rail passenger accident’ and 
‘rail passenger carrier’ have the meanings such 
terms have in section 1138 of this title; and 
‘‘(2) the term ‘passenger’ means a person 
aboard a rail passenger carrier’s train that is in-
volved in a rail passenger accident.
‘‘(e) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 
Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting the 
actions that a rail passenger carrier may take, or the obli-
gations that a rail passenger carrier may have, in pro-
viding assistance to the families of passengers involved in 
a rail passenger accident.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of chap-
ters for subtitle V of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 249 
the following new item: 
‘‘251. FAMILY ASSISTANCE ..........................................................25101’’. 
SEC. 203. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation, in coordination with the National Transpor-
tation Safety Board, organizations potentially designated 
under section 1138(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, 
rail passenger carriers, and families which have been in-
volved in rail accidents, shall establish a task force con-
sisting of representatives of such entities and families, rep-
resentatives of passenger rail carrier employees, and rep-
resentatives of such other entities as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
(b) MODEL PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—The 
task force established pursuant to subsection (a) shall de-
velop—
(1) a model plan to assist passenger rail car-
riers in responding to passenger rail accidents; 
(2) recommendations on methods to improve 
the timeliness of the notification provided by pas-
senger rail carriers to the families of passengers in-
volved in a passenger rail accident; 
(3) recommendations on methods to ensure that 
the families of passengers involved in a passenger 
rail accident who are not citizens of the United 
States receive appropriate assistance; and 
(4) recommendations on methods to ensure that 
emergency services personnel have as immediate and 
accurate a count of the number of passengers on-
board the train as possible. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report containing the model plan and recommendations 
developed by the task force under subsection (b). 
Æ