Federal Railroad Safety Authorization Act of 1980
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
Federal Railroad Safety Authorization Act of 1980 - Amends the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1981 and 1982. Grants to an appropriate district court jurisdiction to restrain violations of or to enforce rules or orders on railroad safety established under any statute transferred to the Secretary of Transportation by the Department of Transportation Act. Makes conforming amendments to specified acts to extend venue in such cases to include the judicial district in which the defendant has its principal executive office. Amends the Hours of Service Act of 1907 to extend: (1) venue in specified cases to include the judicial district in which the defendant has its principal executive office; and (2) the statute of limitations if administrative notice is given pursuant to the Federal Claims Collection Act within two years from the date of the violation. Authorizes the Secretary to issue orders directing compliance with the statutes and regulations regarding railroad safety transferred to the Secretary's responsibility under the Department of Transportation Act. Grants jurisdiction, upon petition by the Attorney General, to the district courts to enforce any order issued by the Secretary pursuant to such Act or to this Act. Prescribes criminal penalties for specified violations of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to impose such restrictions or prohibitions as may be necessary to abate an emergency situation involving a hazard of death or injury. Directs that such an order cease to be effective after 30 days unless extended in writing by the Secretary. Grants, to the appropriate District Court, jurisdiction to restrain or enjoin the operation of such an order only if: (1) the Secretary has exceeded his or her authority; or (2) there is no reasonable basis to support the determination of the Secretary that an emergency situation exists. Eliminates the requirement that each rail carrier file a locomotive safety inspection report and a repair report with the inspector in charge.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on April 15, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on April 15, 1980: Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
HARLEY STAGGERS (D-WV) introduced it on April 15, 1980. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on April 15, 1980, 16949 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16949 days ago, on April 15, 1980.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers