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United States · Bill · S

S. 2273 (108th)

Rail Security Act of 2004

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

1 April 2004

Last action

4 October 2004 · Floor

Status

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Sponsors

Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ], Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC], Rep. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME-2], Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA], Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY], Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV], Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE], Rep. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE-At Large], Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ], Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX], Sen. Fitzgerald, Peter [R-IL], Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI], Rep. Breaux, John B. [D-LA-7], Rep. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND-At Large], Charles Schumer, Rep. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA-6], Maria Cantwell, Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ], Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [D-CT], Susan Collins

Subjects

Transport

Source updated

7 April 2025

Transport

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Rail Security Act of 2004 - Directs the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security to complete a vulnerability assessment of freight and passenger rail transportation for identification of: (1) critical assets and infrastructures and threats to such assets and infrastructures; (2) vulnerabilities that are specific to the transportation of hazardous materials via railroad; and (3) security weaknesses in passenger and cargo security, transportation infrastructure, protection systems, procedural policies, communications systems, employee training, emergency response planning, and any other area identified by the assessment. Requires the Under Secretary based on the assessment to develop specific prioritized recommendations for improving rail security. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to review existing Department of Transportation (DOT) rail regulations to identify areas in which those regulations need to be revised to improve rail security. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on the rail passenger transportation security programs in Japan, member nations of the European Union (EU), and other foreign countries in order to identify effective rail transportation security measures in use in those foreign rail transportation systems, including innovative measures and screening procedures determined effective. Directs the Under Secretary to: (1) analyze the cost and feasibility of requiring security screening for passengers, baggage, and mail on passenger trains; and (2) conduct a pilot program of random security screening of passengers and baggage at a specified number of passenger rail stations served by Amtrak. Authorizes appropriations for Amtrak for certain fire and life-safety improvements and infrastructure upgrades to tunnels on the Northeast Corridor. Amends Federal transportation law to direct Amtrak to submit to the National Transportation Safety Board a plan to address the needs of families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents. Authorizes the Under Secretary to make grants for certain system-wide Amtrak security upgrades and freight and hazardous materials transportation and passenger rail security upgrades. Establishes a research and development (R&D) program to improve freight and intercity passenger rail security. Directs the Federal Railroad Administration to set forth certain standards for welded rail and tank car safety improvements. Requires the Under Secretary to report to specified congressional committees: (1) an assessment of the current system for preclearance and screening of rail and airline passengers and baggage, as well as freight railroad traffic, between the United States and Canada; and (2) information on progress toward finalizing a protocal with Canada on preclearance of rail passengers between the two countries.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 1 April 2004

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3572-3575)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 1 April 2004

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3572)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 1 April 2004

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 8 April 2004

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.

    Source: Committee

  5. 21 May 2004

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 536.

    Source: Calendars

  6. 21 May 2004

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with amendments. With written report No. 108-278. (text of measure as reported in Senate: CR 10/1/2004 S10278-10282)

    Source: Committee

  7. 21 May 2004

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with amendments. With written report No. 108-278.(text of measure as reported in Senate: CR 10/1/2004 S10278-10282)

    Source: Committee

  8. 1 October 2004

    Passed

    Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10278-10285; text as passed Senate: CR S10282-10285)

    Source: Floor

  9. 1 October 2004

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S10278-10285; text as passed Senate: CR S10282-10285)

    Source: Floor

  10. 4 October 2004

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

    Source: IntroReferral

  11. 4 October 2004

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  12. 4 October 2004

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

11 official files

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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