HOWIE Act

Bill: 118-hr-3705
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Introduced: 2023-05-25
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accidents

Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Department of Transportation

Railroads

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2023-05-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-05-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <html><body><p><b>Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act or the HOWIE Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Federal Railroad Administration to issue regulations to require a railroad to report a train accident that results in damage if the railroad has a reasonable suspicion that an action carried out by the railroad caused the damage. An accident includes any incident that causes a fire, including a brush fire, alongside a railroad track.</p> <p>Specifically, a railroad must report (1) a train accident resulting in damage (based on a preliminary gross estimate) of $150,000 or more to railroad and nonrailroad property;  or (2) a train accident resulting in damage of $25,000 or more to a passenger train, including railroad and nonrailroad property. </p></body></html>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3705 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 25, 2023 Mr. Lawler introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To require the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations requiring a rail carrier to report certain damage if such carrier has a reasonable suspicion that an action carried out by the carrier caused such damage.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act or the HOWIE Act . 2. Standard for reporting certain damage relating to railroad operations The Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, shall issue such regulations as are necessary to update section 225.9 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to require a railroad to report a train accident resulting in damage described under such section, including any incident that causes a fire (including a brush fire) alongside a railroad track, if such railroad has a reasonable suspicion that an action carried out by the railroad caused such damage.