Rail Safety Improvement Initiatives Act of 1991

Summary

Rail Safety Improvement Initiatives Act of 1991 - Amends the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (the Act) to authorize appropriations for FY 1992 through 1994 for railroad research and development (except magnetic levitation) and general safety operations. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to request and use non-Federal funds for expenses incurred in training safety employees of public and private industry, and State and local authorities, except rail safety inspectors. Declares that civil penalties with respect to the failure to comply with railroad safety rules, regulations, orders, and standards shall, to the same extent as they do to railroads, apply to: (1) any owner, manufacturer, lessor, or lessee of railroad equipment, track, or facilities; or (2) any independent contractor providing goods or services to a railroad. Amends Federal law to provide criminal penalties for the murder or attempted murder or manslaughter of any Federal Railroad Administration employee assigned to perform investigative, inspection, or law enforcement functions. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on efforts to improve the safety of locomotive cabs. Directs the Secretary to ensure that the Secretary of Labor is apprised of the extent to which the Secretary has exercised jurisdiction to prescribe or enforce regulations or orders affecting occupational safety or health or any other Federal railroad safety laws. Requires the National Transportation Safety Board to have immediate access to event recorders and the first opportunity to read event recorder data and related materials following any reportable railroad accident. Requires the Secretary to submit to specified congressional committees a report on voice communications and advanced train control systems. Amends the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 1988 to require the Northeast Corridor Safety Committee to meet at least once every two years to consider safety matters on the main line of the Northeast Corridor. Amends the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 to subject any final agency action taken under any Federal railroad safety laws to judicial review. Requires the Secretary to review the Department of Transportation's rules with respect to railroad power brakes and to revise such rules based on safety data presented during such review. Amends the Department of Transportation Act to authorize appropriations for the local rail freight assistance program.

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Documents

5 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN

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• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN

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• Indefinitely postponed in Senate

  summary · EN · 16 September 1992

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• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 18 November 1991

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 26 July 1991

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