Rail Security Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-2351
Sponsor: Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8]
Introduced: 2005-05-12 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Animals
Armed Forces and National Security
Biological warfare
Bridges
Cemeteries and funerals
Chemical warfare
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Commemorations
Commerce
Compensation (Law)
Computer networks
Computer security measures
Computer software
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Construction industries
Construction workers
Consumer education
Cost effectiveness
Counseling
Crime and Law Enforcement
Damages
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Labor
Department of Transportation
Directories
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
District of Columbia
Dogs
Economics and Public Finance
Electric power failures
Electronic surveillance
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Employee training
Energy
Environmental Protection
Equipment and supplies
Evacuation of civilians
Explosives
Families
Family services
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to transportation
Federal employees
Federal preemption
Fire prevention
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government corporations
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Grievance procedures
Health
Infrastructure
International Affairs
Labor and Employment
Law
Legal advertising and soliciting
Legal fees
Liability (Law)
Lighting
Local laws
Maps
Maryland
Mental health services
Minimum wages
Monuments and memorials
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
National Transportation Safety Board
New York City
Nonprofit organizations
Northeastern States
Nuclear terrorism
Private police
Public meetings
Public relations
Railroad employees
Railroad engineering
Railroad freight operations
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad safety
Railroad terminals
Railroads
Recruiting of employees
Research and development
Risk
Sabotage
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Social Welfare
State laws
Technological innovations
Telephone
Terrorism
Torts
Transportation of hazardous substances
Transportation planning
Transportation research
Travel costs
Tunnels
Wage restitution
Wages
Whistle blowing
Wrongful death

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: 
Rail Security Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to: (1) develop a security assessment of railroad transportation identifying critical railroad assets and infrastructures, including threats and vulnerabilities specific to the rail transportation of hazardous materials; (2) use the security assessment to develop a transportation modal security plan that establishes a strategy for minimizing terrorist threats to railroad transportation systems; (3) develop prioritized recommendations for improving railroad security; (4) carry out a research and development (R&D) program to improve railroad security; (5) develop guidance for a rail worker security traning program to prepare rail workers for potential threat conditions; and (6) develop a national plan for public outreach and awareness to increase awareness of measures that the general public and railroad passengers and employees can take to increase railroad system security.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to freight and passenger railroad carriers (including shippers of hazardous materials) for security upgrades to prevent or respond to acts of terrorism or sabotage.
 
Authorizes appropriations to Amtrak for fire and life-safety improvements and infrastructure upgrades to certain tunnels in New York, New York, Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
 
Sets forth certain whistleblower protections for rail employees or other persons providing information about perceived security threats.
 
Directs the Secretary to analyze the cost and feasibility of requiring security screening for passengers, baggage, and cargo on passenger trains. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) issue emergency responder training standards; and (2) provide grants to Operation Respond Institute.
 
Amends Federal transportation law to require the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as soon as practicable after a rail passenger accident involving a major loss of life, to: (1) designate and publicize a NTSB employee who shall be a director of support services for the families of passengers involved; and (2) designate an independent, experienced nonprofit organization with primary responsibility for coordinating the emotional care and support of such families.
 
Directs each rail passenger carrier to submit to the Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of the NTSB a plan for addressing the needs of such families.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a task force to develop a model plan to assist passenger rail carriers in responding to passenger rail accidents.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity.
action_date: 2005-05-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads.
action_date: 2005-05-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E972-973)
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Introduced in House