H.R. 8012 · 119th Congress
HOWIE Act
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R
LawlerSponsorNo cosponsors.
Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act or the HOWIE Act
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Mar 19, 2026
Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act or the HOWIE Act
This bill directs the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to revise current railroad accident reporting requirements to include additional causes of damage. Specifically, FRA must 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.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: HOWIE Act
Also known as: Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act
Latest action (Mar 20, 2026): Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works · Origin: House · Introduced: Mar 19, 2026
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.