Federal Railroad Safety Authorization Act of 1980
Latest action. Measure laid on table in House, S. 2730 passed in lieu.
(Measure passed House, amended) Federal Railroad Safety Authorization Act of 1980 - Amends the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1981 and an increased authorization for fiscal year 1982. Allocates such appropriations to specified services and activities. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation 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. Directs the Secretary to describe the conditions that create an emergency situation and to establish standards and procedures under which relief from such order may be obtained. Authorizes any employee who may be exposed to imminent injury by such hazard to bring an action to compel the Secretary to issue such an order if the Secretary unreasonably fails to seek such relief. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with any State to provide investigative and surveillance activities as regards railroad safety appliances and hours of service of employees. Authorizes the appropriate State agency to apply to a U.S. district court: (1) for assessment and collection of a civil penalty for the violation of any railroad safety rule or order; and (2) within 15 days after the date on which the Secretary received notification of a violation, for injunctive relief. Prohibits a State from bringing an action under this Act in a district court located outside the boundaries of the State. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation 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 such Act. Extends venue in such cases to include the judicial district in which the defendant has its principal executive office. Amends the Act to prohibit any railroad from discharging or discriminating against any railroad employee because such employee: (1) becomes involved in any enforcement action against such railroad; or (2) refuses to work when confronted by a hazardous condition related to the performance of the employee's duties. Exempts security personnel employed by a railroad from the above provisions. Authorizes the National Railroad Adjustment Board to award backpay to aggrieved employees and to order such employees reinstated. Allows an aggrieved employee to seek relief either pursuant to this Act or pursuant to another provision of law but not both. Establishes pay classifications for a railroad safety inspector and a railroad safety specialist. 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. Amends the Locomotive Inspection Act of 1911 to direct each carrier to keep on file the report of all required locomotive inspections and the report showing the repair of the defects disclosed by such an inspection. Amends the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 to direct the Secretary, within two years of the date of enactment of this Act, to issue rules, regulations, orders, and standards as may be necessary to insure the safe construction, maintenance, and operation of railroad passenger equipment. Authorizes the Secretary to consult with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), public authorities that operate passenger service, other rail carriers that transport passengers, passenger organizations, and employee organizations before issuing such rules, regulations, orders, and standards. Amends the Alaska Railroad Act to authorize Alaska railroad security personnel to carry firearms and make arrests. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study regarding employee training in the railroad industry as it affects railroad safety. Directs the Secretary to expedite promulgation of a final rule regarding the retrofitting of Department of Transportation specification 105 tank cars with shelf couplers. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress: (1) a status report as regards such final rule; and (2) a systems safety plan relating to the activities of the Department in carrying out rail safety laws. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop a methodology to determine safety inspection schedules, with priority granted to track and equipment involved with passenger trains and hazardous cargoes.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Passed House amended" stage on September 22, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Measure laid on table in House, S. 2730 passed in lieu.
Civibrief does not map this action to a stage in the process. See the official record.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
The latest action on file does not map to a stage Civibrief recognizes, so the page will not name one. The record's own words are the reliable fact here.
The record's latest action, on September 22, 1980: Measure laid on table in House, S. 2730 passed in lieu.
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 has no outstanding steps 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?
JAMES FLORIO (D-NJ) introduced it on April 22, 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 22, 1980, 16942 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16789 days ago, on September 22, 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
- HouseMeasure laid on table in House, S. 2730 passed in lieu.
- SenateNot stated in the latest action
- PresidentNot stated in the latest action