jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-11-17 00:00:00

Passenger Train Derailment Prevention Act

This bill requires each railroad carrier on whose tracks an entity provides regularly scheduled intercity rail passenger transportation or commuter rail passenger transportation to submit to the Department of Transportation (DOT) a list identifying each curve, bridge, tunnel, or other location where the maximum authorized operating speed for such a passenger train is at least 20 miles per hour less than the maximum approach speed. DOT must provide such information, along with a list of any additional track locations that DOT identifies as dangerous, to specified congressional committees.

DOT shall exercise its emergency authority to require:

 each such entity using a train equipped with an automatic train control system to modify such system to automatically slow down the train if it fails to comply with applicable maximum authorized speed limits at such locations, each such entity using a train not equipped with such system to provide that the train movement through such locations be made with a second qualified crew member in the cab of the controlling locomotive or with constant communication between the locomotive engineer and an additional crew member in the body of the train, and each such railroad carrier to install additional wayside signage along the carrier's tracks alerting engineers and conductors of the maximum authorized passenger train speed. DOT may exempt from these requirements any segment of track for which operations are governed by a certified positive train control system or equivalent safety technology.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2016-02-25 00:00:00

Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy Act or the BRACE Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax credit for railroad track maintenance.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2016-03-16 00:00:00

Fire Department Proper Response and Equipment Prioritization Act

This bill amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in making grants to fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations, and state fire training academies, to give high priority consideration to grants that provide for planning, training, and equipment to firefighters for crude oil-by-rail and ethanol-by-rail derailment and incident response.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-07-13 00:00:00

Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish, within the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, a separate Hazardous Liquids Rail Spill Liability Account to support actions related to preventing and responding to discharges of oil or hazardous substances that result from rail shipments; (2) impose a fee on hazardous flammable liquids transported by rail; and (3) establish a tax credit for qualified tank-car conversion expenses.

In addition, the bill:

 expands liability with respect to discharges of hazardous substances, expands Department of Transportation (DOT) training with respect to accidents arising from rail transportation of flammable liquids or gases, establishes a High Hazard Rail Shipments Preparedness grant program, and establishes a Track Relocation and Railroad Inspection Safety grant program. The Federal Railroad Administration must implement specified recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board.

DOT, the Department of Commerce, and the Energy Information Administration shall collect specified data related to high hazard rail transportation.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-07-14 00:00:00

Community Protection and Preparedness Act of 2016

This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT), annually, to impose a $1,500 fee for each DOT-111 specification railroad tank car used to transport Class 3 flammable liquids during the previous fiscal year that did not meet DOT-117, DOT-117P, or DOT-117R specifications at the time it was used. Such fee shall be paid by each person who causes such liquids to be transported by such car in commerce and not by the railroad carrier that transports such liquids.

Collected fees shall be deposited into a Rail Account established within the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and shall be available only for: (1) the payment of removal and remediation costs and other costs, expenses, claims, and damages related to an accident or incident involving the transportation of Class 3 flammable liquids by rail; and (2) DOT grants to states and Indian tribes to develop emergency plans and to train regional hazardous material emergency response teams and public employees responding to such an accident or incident.

DOT shall issue such regulations as necessary to require each Class I railroad carrier to inspect all track where an accident or incident involving the transportation by rail of flammable liquids or material poisonous or toxic by inhalation could affect a "high consequence area" (a commercially navigable waterway, an area with a high or concentrated population, or an area that is unusually sensitive to environmental damage). The inspections shall be carried out on foot and by a gage restraint measurement system. An inspector who finds a deviation from requirements regarding track safety standards shall immediately initiate remedial action.

Necessary amounts are authorized for the Federal Railroad Administration to hire at least two additional track safety specialists per region.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-02-23 00:00:00

Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 2015 

This bill authorizes appropriations for FY2016-FY2019 for the highway safety improvement program, with $50 million set aside for each fiscal year for the Railway-Highway Crossings Program.

The limitation to three states per year is eliminated, so all states now become eligible for the award of Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety improvement grants to develop or continue enhanced public education and awareness activities, in combination with targeted law enforcement, to reduce traffic law violations at highway-rail grade crossings, as well as to prevent and reduce injuries and fatalities along railroad rights-of-way. The limitation on grant amounts awarded to a state is increased from $250,000 to $2.5 million.

Eligibility requirements are revised for the award of capital grants to states under the rail line relocation and improvement program.

Increased appropriations under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 are authorized for FY2016-FY2019 for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to make grants to the Operation Lifesaver program.

The FRA shall hire:

 16 full-time grade crossing safety managers to work with state and local officials to identify safety improvements to highway-rail grade crossings; and 8 trespass prevention managers to work with local governments, schools, businesses, and railroads to develop site-specific mitigation plans. The Secretary of Transportation shall study the feasibility of requiring railroads to provide additional means for the public to report problems at highway-rail grade crossings, including via a website and text messaging.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2015-02-24 00:00:00

RESPONSE Act of 2016

 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Subcommittee of the National Advisory Council.

The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall develop recommendations for improving emergency responder training and resource allocation for hazardous materials (hazmat) incidents involving railroads after evaluating the following topics:

 the quality and application of training for state and local emergency responders related to rail hazmat incidents, including training for emergency responders serving small communities near railroads; the availability and effectiveness of federal, state, local, and nongovernmental funding levels related to training emergency responders for rail hazmat incidents, including emergency responders serving small communities near railroads; and the strategy for integrating commodity flow studies, mapping, and rail and hazmat databases for state and local emergency responders and increasing the rate of access to the individual responder in existing or emerging communications technology. The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall terminate within 90 days after the council submits a report approving the RESPONSE Subcommittee recommendations.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-03-03 00:00:00

Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for railroad track maintenance, to: (1) expand the types of maintenance expenditures eligible for such credit, and (2) extend such credit through 2016.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-03-04 00:00:00

Railroad Safety and Positive Train Control Extension Act

 (Sec. 2) This bill revises the railroad safety risk reduction program.

The bill extends from December 31, 2015, to December 31, 2020, the deadline for submission to the Department of Transportation (DOT) by each Class I railroad carrier and each entity providing regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation of a plan for implementing a positive train control (PTC) system on certain of its tracks.

(Sec. 3) DOT may extend the implementation deadline, upon application, in one-year increments, if specified circumstances exist.

(Sec. 4) The bill directs DOT to revise federal regulations requiring a Class II or III railroad (including a tourist or excursion railroad) to extend by five years the deadlines for equipping its locomotives with an onboard PTC system to operate in PTC territory and applicable reporting requirements.

(Sec. 5) The bill requires Class I railroad carriers and each entity providing regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation to submit annual progress reports to DOT on the status of plans to implement a PTC system.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-03-24 00:00:00

Rail Shipper Fairness Act of 2015

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) may:

 issue emergency service orders covering rail carrier shipments moving under contract only if they are part of a regional service order; and require reports, service plans, or other documents that cover shipments moving under contract if such shipments are part of a general report, service plan, or other document that generally covers the geographic area or commodity. Rail carriers shall be liable to any person in federal district court for damages or equitable relief as a result of inadequate or deficient service in violation of federal law.

Civil monetary penalties for rail carriers increase from $5,000 to $25,000 per violation.

It is U.S. transportation policy to provide for and promote the protection of the shipping public.

 Shippers may obtain rates to or from any interchange points of two or more rail carriers.

When determining whether a rail carrier proposing a rate challenged as unreasonably high has market dominance over the transportation to which the rate applies, the STB shall consider that the rail carrier could have market dominance even in circumstances in which a shipper is served by two carriers.

The circumstances involving mandatory reciprocal switching agreements are changed. The STB shall now require a Class 1 rail carrier to enter into a competitive switching agreement if a shipper or receiver (or a group of shippers or receivers) files a petition that satisfies the Board that:

 the facilities of the shipper or receiver are served by rail only by a single, Class I rail carrier; and there is or can be a working interchange between the Class I rail carrier serving the shipper or receiver in question and another rail carrier within a reasonable distance of the facilities of such shipper or receiver. Competitive switching may not be imposed, however, if:

 either rail carrier between which such switching is to be established demonstrates that the proposed switching is not feasible or is unsafe, or the presence of reciprocal switching will unduly restrict the ability of a rail carrier to serve its own shippers. The STB must observe specified rules when deciding stand-alone cost cases with respect to a maximum reasonable rate.

The STB shall apply a certain formula to calculate a rail carrier's cost of capital. This replaces the current requirement that the STB determine annually which rail carriers are earning adequate revenues.

The number of STB members increases from 3 to 5, with no more than 3 of them (currently no more than 2 of them) from the same party. At least 2 members must have a background in shipping or consumer advocacy.

The STB must meet regularly.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-04-16 00:00:00

Positive Train Control Safety Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) to extend the deadline, in one-year increments, for implementation of positive train control systems if full implementation by the existing deadline will likely be infeasible due to circumstances beyond the control of the applicant, and other certain other criteria are met.

Each Class I railroad carrier, and each entity providing regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation, must submit annual progress reports to DOT on the status of fits implementation plan.

Such plans shall now be required for any such carrier or entity governing operations on a main line over which 20 or more tank cars loaded with petroleum crude oil, ethanol, or other Class 3 material are transported.

DOT shall assess electromagnetic spectrum needs and availability for implementing positive train control systems.

Applicable railroad carriers shall establish a confidential close call reporting system program subject to DOT regulations.

 A railroad carrier providing commuter rail passenger transportation on high density commuter railroad lines, when performing a required inspection, shall:

 at least once each two weeks traverse each line by vehicle or inspect each main line on foot, and at least once each month traverse and inspect each siding by vehicle or by foot. DOT shall:

 study the effectiveness of positive train control and related technologies on reducing collisions at highway-rail grade crossings; and promulgate regulations to require that on-track safety programs, whenever practicable and consistent with other safety requirements and operational considerations, include requiring implementation of redundant signal protection, such as shunting, for maintenance-of-way work crews who depend on a train dispatcher to provide signal protection.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-04-27 00:00:00

Pets on Trains Act of 2015

 Directs the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to propose a pet policy that allows passengers to transport domesticated cats or dogs on certain Amtrak trains.

Requires Amtrak to collect a fee for each cat or dog transported by a ticketed passenger to cover administrative costs.

Declares that the proposed policy shall be separate from and in addition to the policy governing Amtrak passengers traveling with service animals.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-05-18 00:00:00

This bill revises the limitation on passenger rail transportation liability to increase from $200 million to $500 million, adjusted annually for inflation, the aggregate allowable awards to all rail passengers, against all defendants, for all claims, including any for punitive damages, arising from a single accident or incident.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) must consider, within two years after enactment of this Act, whether to:

 make any needed additional adjustments to the liability cap; and establish or adjust mandatory coverage for Amtrak, any high-speed railroad authority or operator, any commuter authority or operator, any rail carrier, or any state (listed entities). The total minimum liability coverage Amtrak must maintain for claims through insurance and self-insurance shall increase from $200 million per accident or incident to $500 million, unless DOT, by regulation, determines that a different minimum level of financial responsibility is necessary or sufficient to satisfy claims.

DOT may make a grant to Amtrak or another listed entity as a reasonable reimbursement, considering ability to meet increased costs and impacts on safety and service, to offset any incremental increase in the cost of insurance resulting from this Act.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-05-22 00:00:00

Eliminating Dangerous Oil Cars and Ensuring Community Safety Act

This bill replaces general requirements for design standards of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for pressurized tank cars with a retrofitting requirement for certain tank cars.

No rail carrier may ship on or after a specified deadline any hazardous material (hazmat) in any tank car under DOT-111 (Department of Transportation specification for a non-pressurized rail tank car) or non-jacketed Casualty Prevention Circular (CPC)-1232 (new rail tank car standards for transporting crude oil or ethanol), unless the tank car has been retrofitted in accordance with the DOT-117 specification design established by the May 2015 final rule for the safe transportation of flammable liquids by rail.

DOT shall establish and begin enforcing a national maximum volatility standard for the transport of crude oil by rail or by barge.

The bill sets a maximum speed for any train carrying more than 10 cars, including at least one hazmat-carrying DOT-111 or unjacketed CPC-1232 tank car that has not been so retrofitted, of 40 miles per hour while traveling through a county (or county equivalent) with a population density of greater than 20 persons per square mile.

 In addition to certain other required track inspections, each rail carrier shall conduct, on main line routes it owns or for which it has been assigned maintenance responsibility, and over which 1 or more high-hazard flammable trains are operated:

 2 additional inspections for internal defects of all rail in Classes 3, 4, and 5 for every 40,000,000 gross tons transported on such lines, or annually, whichever interval is shorter; and 4 track geometry inspections each calendar year. Beginning on December 1, 2018, each rail line over which tank cars carrying crude oil or ethanol travel shall be equipped with a positive train control system.

Each rail carrier that transports crude oil, petroleum, or other hazardous products by rail shall develop comprehensive oil spill response plans.

The FRA shall develop a program to audit such response plans to ensure that they include comprehensive procedures for:

 preventing or mitigating a substantial threat of a worst-case discharge of such products resulting from a rail accident or incident, and responding to and cleaning up such a discharge. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration shall revise specified spill response planning thresholds to require comprehensive response plans to effectively provide for a carrier's ability to respond to worst-case discharges resulting from accidents involving unit trains or blocks of tank cars transporting oil and petroleum products.

Each rail carrier shall:

 establish a system through which employees may anonymously report circumstances or incidents that endanger the safety of railroad operations, and provide specified information to the FRA and the county emergency management contact (or equivalent) immediately after the derailment of any high hazard flammable train the carrier operates.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2015-06-18 00:00:00

Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2015

Amends the Clayton Act to grant the United States exclusive authority to bring suit for injunctive relief against any common carrier that is not a rail common carrier and that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). This covers motor carriers, water carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and pipeline carriers.

Declares that, in any civil action against a rail common carrier, the U.S. district court shall not be required to defer to the primary jurisdiction of the STB.

Empowers the Federal Trade Commission to regulate, and engage in antitrust enforcement regarding, collective rate agreements and certain transactions, including railroad mergers and acquisitions.

Permits treble damages against common carrier railroads in antitrust suits to parties injured by antitrust violations without regard to whether such railroads have filed rates or whether a complaint challenging rates has been filed.

Amends federal transportation law to terminate the exemptions from antitrust laws for collective ratemaking agreements.

Requires the STB, when reviewing a proposed agreement, to take into account its impact upon shippers, consumers, and affected communities.

Exempts from antitrust law the pooling of railroad cars approved by the STB or its predecessor agency.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2016-02-25 00:00:00

Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax credit for railroad track maintenance.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-07-13 00:00:00

Mandate Oil Spill Investigations and Emergency Rules (MOSIER) Act of 2016

This bill reauthorizes through FY2020 the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). A specified amount is set-aside for costs to carry out railroad accident investigations and investigations of significant railroad incidents.

The bill requires the NTSB to investigate derailments involving a significant release of hazardous materials into the environment within close proximity to communities, personal property, or critical landscapes.

The bill expands the authority of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue emergency orders for unsafe occurrences causing, or potentially causing, an emergency or reoccurring situation involving a hazard of death, personal injury, or significant harm to the environment.

DOT shall establish and enforce a national standard for the maximum volatility of crude oil to be permitted to be shipped by rail based on the safest practicable standard.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-07-14 00:00:00

This bill revises program requirements for the licensing or certification of locomotive operators by prohibiting the issuance of a license or certification to operate a commuter train to, or revoking such license or certification of, any individual whose license was denied, canceled, revoked, or suspended within the most recent five-year period due to being convicted of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of, or impaired by, alcohol or a controlled substance.
Topic: Agriculture — Marketing & Promotion
Subject: Agriculture and food
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Farmers Markets Infrastructure Assistance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans, loan guarantees, and grants to eligible public agencies and nonprofit organizations for the construction of new farmers markets, or the improvement or rehabilitation of existing farmers markets.