H.R. 854 · 119th Congress
DERAIL Act
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D
DeluzioSponsor16 cosponsors · 16 D
D
Boyle
GC
D
Casar
LD
D
Doggett
MD
D
Dean
DE
D
Evans
AG
D
Green
RK
D
Khanna
SL
D
Lee
GM
D
Moore
BP
D
Pettersen
PR
D
Ryan
JS
D
Schakowsky
HS
D
Stevens
TL
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Lieu
IO
D
Omar
ML
D
Levin13 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally Act or the DERAIL Act
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Jan 31, 2025
Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally Act or the DERAIL Act
This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to expand the definition of a high-hazard flammable train (HHFT), thereby subjecting more trains to additional safety requirements.
Specifically, DOT must expand the definition of HHFT to mean a train transporting one or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid (e.g., benzene residue) or a Class 2 flammable gas (e.g., vinyl chloride) and other materials DOT determines necessary for safety. Current regulations define HHFT as a train transporting 20 or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid in a continuous block or 35 or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid dispersed throughout the train.
The bill also requires railway carriers to report a train derailment that involves a train carrying material toxic by inhalation within 24 hours of the derailment to the National Response Center (NRC), state and local officials, and tribal governments. As background, the NRC is a part of the federally established National Response System. Reports to the NRC activate the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan and the federal government's response capabilities.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: DERAIL Act
Also known as: Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally Act
Latest action (Feb 1, 2025): Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works · Origin: House · Introduced: Jan 31, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.