jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2013-08-01 00:00:00

Railroad Safety and Positive Train Control Extension Act - Revises the railroad safety risk reduction program.

Extends from December 31, 2015, to December 31, 2020, the deadline for submission to the Secretary 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.

Authorizes the Secretary to extend the implementation deadline, upon application, in one-year increments, if specified circumstances exist.

Directs the Secretary to revise federal regulations requiring a Class II or III railroad (including a tourist or excursion railroad) to equip its locomotives with an onboard PTC system to operate in PTC territory.

Extends for five years the time for such railroad to meet the deadline for equipping its locomotives with a PTC system.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2013-11-14 00:00:00

Pets on Trains Act of 2013 - 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: 2014-06-17 00:00:00

Short Line Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2014 - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to award grants to private or nonprofit organizations involved in, or affiliated with, transportation by regional (Class II) railroads and shortline (Class III) railroads for research, development, evaluation, and training efforts to enhance rail safety practices and safety culture.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2014-06-26 00:00:00

RESPONSE Act of 2014 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation Subcommittee of the National Advisory Council.

Directs the Subcommittee to develop recommendations for improving emergency responder training and resource allocation, including regarding:

 the quality and application of training for local emergency first responders related to rail hazardous materials incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency responders and small communities near railroads; the effectiveness of funding levels related to training local emergency responders for rail hazardous materials incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency responders and small communities; a strategy for integration of commodity flow studies, mapping, and access platforms for local emergency responders and how to increase the rate of access to the individual responder in communications technology; the lack of emergency response plans for rail, similar to existing law related to maritime and stationary facility emergency response plans; the development of a train incident database; increasing access to relevant, useful, and timely information for the local emergency responder; and determining the most efficient agencies and offices for the implementation of the recommendations. Terminates the Subcommittee not later than four years after this Act's enactment, subject to one year extensions.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2014-09-18 00:00:00

Toxics by Rail Accountability and Community Knowledge (TRACK) Act of 2014 - Requires railroad carriers found at fault for an unintended release of hazardous materials (hazmat) due to a railroad accident or incident during calendar year 2010 to:

 review periodically any post-accident public health assessments of hazmat-exposed individuals who could experience long-lasting or irreversible health effects; inform those individuals in a timely manner of any health information, including information on long-lasting or irreversible health consequences; and offer to renegotiate any legal settlements made to affected individuals in which additional information about potential for such consequences has been later disclosed in a post-accident public health assessment. Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to prescribe regulations:

 requiring railroad carriers transporting hazmat to give first responders, emergency response officials, and law enforcement personnel accurate and current commodity flow data and assist with the development of emergency operations and hazmat response plans for railroad accidents or incidents; and establishing a procedure for railroad carriers to permit a train to pass a red signal at a moveable bridge. Requires the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, to develop route safety and security risk assessment tools for short line and regional railroad carriers.

Revises the railroad safety risk reduction program by requiring railroad carriers to develop a comprehensive program to improve safety by reducing the number and rates of accidents, incidents, injuries, and fatalities (as under current law) through the use of safety management systems and their associated key principles, analysis of operational incidents and accidents, and continuous evaluation and improvement programs.

Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations requiring railroad carriers transporting hazmat to:

 give first responders, emergency response officials, and law enforcement personnel real-time information regarding hazmat on the train in the event of an incident, accident, or emergency; and develop a public education program for communities along railroad hazmat routes. Prescribes certain civil penalties for any railroad carrier that violates a requirement or regulation under this Act.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-01-14 00:00:00

This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to assess a civil penalty of $10,000 against a railroad carrier for each complete hour in which a shift change of rail carrier employees causes a blockage of vehicular traffic at a grade crossing.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-01-14 00:00:00

Moving Obstructed Trains In-between Openings Now (MOTION) Act

Allows railroad employees to remain or go on duty for a period in excess of the limitations established under hours-of-service requirements to the extent necessary to clear a blockage of vehicular traffic at a grade crossing.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-02-03 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: 2015-02-04 00:00:00

Rail Crossings Safety Improvement Act 

This bill reauthorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Transportation for FY2016-FY2019, at levels reduced from those for FY2006-FY2009, for capital grants to states for rail line relocation and improvement projects.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-02-04 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: 2015-02-10 00:00:00

Requires a rail carrier to have a storage plan, meeting specified requirements and approved by the Surface Transportation Board, for any of its rail cars that it stores for three or more years, and continues to store, on tracks (except rail yard or storage yard tracks) that pass through a commercial- or residential-zoned area that were designed or previously used for through transportation of trains.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-02-12 00:00:00

Commuter Rail Passenger Safety Act 

 Amends the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 to make the installing of positive train control systems eligible for railroad rehabilitation and improvement direct loans and loan guarantees.

Extends the railroad safety technology grants program for FY2016-FY2020.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2015-02-24 00:00:00

RESPONSE Act of 2015

 Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation Subcommittee of the National Advisory Council.

Directs the Subcommittee to evaluate the following topics and develop recommendations for improving emergency responder training and resource allocation for hazardous materials incidents involving railroads:

 the quality and application of training for local emergency first responders related to rail hazardous materials incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency responders and small communities near railroads; the effectiveness of funding levels related to training local emergency responders for rail hazardous materials incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency responders and small communities; a strategy for integration of commodity flow studies, mapping, and access platforms for local emergency responders and how to increase the rate of access to the individual responder in existing or emerging communications technology; the need for emergency response plans for rail, similar to existing law related to maritime and stationary facility emergency response plans for hazardous materials; the need for a rail hazardous materials incident database; increasing access to relevant, useful, and timely information for the local emergency responder for training purposes and in the event of a rail hazardous materials incident; and determining the most appropriate agencies and offices for the implementation of the recommendations. Terminates the Subcommittee not later than four years after this Act's enactment, subject to one year extensions.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-03-04 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to make appropriate arrangements with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council to study the cost and impact of rerouting freight rail traffic of hazardous material to avoid its transportation through urban areas.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-03-04 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 railroad carriers to provide additional means for the public to report problems at highway-rail grade crossings, including via the Internet and text messaging.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-03-17 00:00:00

Reassuring Adequate Investment in Lifesaving Systems Act or the RAILS Act

This bill revises the railroad safety technology grants program. The program shall also provide for advanced communication methods for conveying hazard information between all parties in the transportation chain, spectrum acquisition, multifrequency broadband connectivity equipment, implementation and interoperability testing.

The program is extended for FY2015-FY2020.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-04-13 00:00:00

Safe Freight Act

 Prohibits the operation of a freight train or light locomotive engine used in the movement of freight unless it has a crew of at least two individuals, one of whom is certified by the Federal Railroad Administration as a locomotive operator and the other as a train conductor.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-04-14 00:00:00

Tank Car Safety and Security Act of 2015 

 Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to revise federal regulations regarding DOT-111 tank cars used to move flammable liquids to: (1) improve tank car design standards for new cars to include an outer steel jacket around it and thermal protection, full-height head shields, and high-flow capacity pressure relief valves; and (2) require additional safety upgrades to tank cars built after October 2011 by including installation of such valves and design modifications to prevent bottom outlets from opening in case of accident.

Directs the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to issue regulations to require that all rail safety coordinators ensure that no tank car containing crude oil is left unattended during any period that it is being transferred between railroad carriers or between a railroad carrier and a shipper.

Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a plan to phase out older-model DOT-111 tank cars that are not retrofitted to meet the new federal requirements.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-04-28 00:00:00

Toxics by Rail Accountability and Community Knowledge Act of 2015 or the TRACK Act

 Requires railroad carriers found at fault for an unintended release of hazardous materials (hazmat) due to a railroad accident or incident during calendar year 2010 to:

 review periodically any post-accident public health assessments of hazmat-exposed individuals who could experience long-lasting or irreversible health effects; inform those individuals in a timely manner of any health information, including information on long-lasting or irreversible health consequences; and offer to renegotiate any legal settlements made to affected individuals in which additional information about potential for such consequences has been later disclosed in a post-accident public health assessment. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations:

 requiring railroad carriers transporting hazmat to give first responders, emergency response officials, and law enforcement personnel accurate and current commodity flow data and assist with the development of emergency operations and hazmat response plans for railroad accidents or incidents; and establishing a procedure for railroad carriers to permit a train to pass a red signal at a moveable bridge. Requires the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, to develop route safety and security risk assessment tools for short line and regional railroad carriers.

Revises the railroad safety risk reduction program by requiring railroad carriers to develop a comprehensive program to improve safety by reducing the number and rates of accidents, incidents, injuries, and fatalities (as under current law) through the use of safety management systems and their associated key principles, analysis of operational incidents and accidents, and continuous evaluation and improvement programs.

Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations requiring railroad carriers transporting hazmat to:

 give first responders, emergency response officials, and law enforcement personnel real-time information regarding hazmat on the train in the event of an incident, accident, or emergency; and develop a public education program for communities along railroad hazmat routes. Prescribes certain civil penalties for any railroad carrier that violates a requirement or regulation under this Act.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-05-01 00:00:00

Safe Communities Act of 2015

This bill declares that the Surface Transportation Board shall not have the authority to regulate liquefied petroleum gas rail transload facilities.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-05-14 00:00:00

Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to modify the description of a high priority project funded under such Act in California by replacing "constructing Arbor Vitae street improvements, Inglewood" with "constructing Imperial Highway street improvements designated by the city of Inglewood."
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-05-15 00:00:00

This bill prohibits any transportation by rail of crude oil with a Reid vapor pressure level greater than 8.5 psi until the Department of Transportation (DOT) establishes an appropriate national standard for the maximum volatility of crude oil to be permitted to be shipped by rail.

DOT shall establish such a national standard, after which the 8.5 psi standard required by this Act shall expire.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-05-21 00:00:00

NEPA Reciprocity Act

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program to eliminate duplicative environmental reviews and approvals under state and federal law for rail and highway transportation projects. Authorizes a state to use state environmental review and approval laws and procedures, consistent with certain requirements, in lieu of federal environmental laws and regulations.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-06-15 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Cross-Border Rail Security Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to report to Congress on:

 the number of high-risk rail shipments annually entering the United States; the status of radiation detection units at each rail crossing on the northern and southern land borders of the United States; an assessment of whether additional radiation detection equipment is necessary to ensure that all high-risk cross-border rail shipments are examined with appropriate equipment; and a plan for ensuring that all relevant CBP personnel receive adequate training and guidance on the proper use of CBP's Automated Targeting System for such shipments, the use of appropriate radiation detection equipment for shipment examination, and requirements for recording examination results. The General Accountability Office shall periodically audit CBP operations at rail crossings on such borders to ensure that rail shipments are targeted and examined and that the examination results are properly documented.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-06-25 00:00:00

At-Grade Crossing Enhancement Act of 2015

This bill directs the Federal Railroad Administration to establish a local rail facilities and safety program to mitigate the impacts of railroad operations in local communities through improvements to highway-rail grade crossings, rail line relocation and improvement projects, and training and technical assistance to local governments. In carrying out the program, the Administration may award grants to eligible entities for freight capacity projects.

The bill defines "eligible entity" to mean one or more states, an Interstate Compact, a local government, a tribal government, or one or more metropolitan planning organizations.

A grant awarded under the program may be used for:

 a capital project to mitigate the impacts of rail infrastructure and operations on a local community; a capital project to improve short-line railroad infrastructure; training and technical assistance to help local governments better understand how to coordinate with railroad carriers on operations and safety issues and on the integration of railroad issues into land use and transportation planning processes; and payment of all or a portion of the subsidy and administrative costs of projects eligible for federal credit assistance under the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 for a capital project to improve short-line railroad infrastructure.
Topic: Transportation — Railroad Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-09-30 00:00:00

Positive Train Control Enforcement and Implementation Act of 2015

This bill extends deadlines and modifies requirements for railroad carriers and providers of intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation to implement positive train control (PTC) systems.

(A PTC system is a communications and signaling system designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments, incursions into established work zone limits, and the movement of a train through a switch left in the wrong position. Railroads which carry passengers or have high-volume freight traffic with certain hazardous materials are required to implement a PTC system.)

Within 60 days of enactment of this bill, each Class I railroad carrier (the largest operators by revenue) and provider of intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation must submit to the Department of Transportation (DOT) a plan for implementing PTC by December 31, 2018, instead of the December 31, 2015, deadline required under current law. DOT may extend the deadline if specified requirements are met.

The revised plan must include a detailed schedule and sequence for fully implementing PTC in a manner that complies with specified regulations, and railroads must implement PTC in accordance with the plan.

DOT may authorize a railroad carrier or other entity to begin the provisional operation of a PTC system without the required certification if it is necessary to enable the safe implementation of PTC in phases.