Rail, Water & Pipeline Transport

Railroads, shipping lines, inland and port operators, and pipelines. Safety mandates, maritime programs, cargo preferences, and permitting reach the network directly.

Measures whose provisions reach this industry directly, verified against the bill text. Measures written for this industry lead the list, then measures that plainly change how it operates; within each, the likeliest to become law come first. Measures that have become law or failed are removed. Measures written to all of Transportation & Warehousing are included and marked Sector-wide.

Measures that reach Rail, Water & Pipeline Transport directly

HJRES 213 US House Last action
September 17, 2026 BenefitFair chance of law

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations; Notice of Decision".

James Gallagher (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This joint resolution would use the Congressional Review Act to throw out the Environmental Protection Agency's January 2025 decision concerning California's Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations, so that the federal rule approving those state engine pollution standards would have no force or effect. If enacted, California could not rely on that federal approval to enforce its commercial harbor craft emission requirements against in-state vessels. This bill cancels federal approval of California's commercial harbor craft emission rules, so ferry, tugboat, and excursion vessel operators in the state would no longer have to retrofit or replace their engines with cleaner models.
Where it stands: The House passed this joint resolution on September 16, 2026 by a vote of 214 to 208, and the Senate received it on September 17, 2026. It is now pending in the Senate, which must approve identical text before the resolution can go to the President, and it is no longer before the House.

HJRES 210 US House Last action
September 16, 2026 BenefitFair chance of law

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth; Notice of Decision".

Vince Fong (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This joint resolution would block a federal rule that allowed California to enforce its Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth pollution control standards, making that rule have no force or effect. If approved, ocean-going ships docking at California ports would not be subject to the emission control requirements the EPA decision had authorized. This bill would cancel the EPA rule letting California enforce its at-berth emission standards, so ocean-going shipping lines calling at California ports and their terminal operators would avoid shore power and other emission control compliance costs.
Where it stands: The House passed this joint resolution on September 15, 2026 by a vote of 216 to 211, and the Senate received it on September 16, 2026. It is now pending in the Senate, which must pass identical text before anything can go to the President.

SJRES 209 US Senate Last action
August 6, 2026 BenefitFair chance of law

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth; Notice of Decision".

Dan Sullivan (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This joint resolution would block a 2023 Environmental Protection Agency decision that allows California to enforce its pollution controls for ocean-going ships at berth, making that rule have no force or effect. Shipping companies would therefore not face the California at-berth engine pollution standards the EPA decision had approved. This bill wipes out an EPA rule letting California enforce its at-berth pollution standards for ocean-going vessels, so shipping lines calling at California ports avoid those engine and shore-power compliance costs.
Where it stands: SJRES209 is a Senate joint resolution to disapprove an EPA rule under the Congressional Review Act. It was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works on August 6, 2026, so it now sits at the committee stage, the first of the Senate's common choke points.

S 4949 US Senate Last action
July 15, 2026 MixedLong shot

Water Resources Development Act of 2026

Shelley Moore Capito (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This bill, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, would authorize and modify a wide range of Army Corps of Engineers water projects, including navigation, flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, shoreline protection, and fish and wildlife habitat work, while directing the Corps to run studies, briefings, and faster review processes for many of them. It would also pour major federal funding into water infrastructure nationwide, including billions for clean water and drinking water state revolving funds, environmental infrastructure projects in many states, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, harmful algal bloom and Puget Sound programs, and new grants for digital water technology, point-of-use filtration, and water sector cybersecurity and workforce efforts. This bill directly benefits rail, water, and pipeline transport businesses by funding navigation projects and maintenance such as the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Port of Nome, reimbursing non-Federal sponsors, and coordinating to protect vessel operations, though some port interests must pay 20 percent of construction costs.
Where it stands: S. 4949 was reported by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works at its July 15, 2026 markup and was placed the same day on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 457. The bill carries no written report, which is normal in the Senate, and the calendar placement does not itself put the bill on the floor schedule.

HR 9497 US House Last action
September 17, 2026 MixedLong shot

Water Resources Development Act of 2026

Sam Graves (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This proposal would authorize a broad set of Army Corps of Engineers water resources activities, including new flood control, navigation, ecosystem restoration, and drinking water and wastewater projects, plus higher federal spending caps for many existing programs. It would also reorganize the Corps with new program offices, speed up studies and project completion, shift federal land to local, tribal, and private recipients, update contracting and permitting rules, and raise or extend funding for programs like oyster recovery, dam rehabilitation, irrigation, and Great Lakes coordination. This bill requires port authorities like Canaveral and South Carolina Ports to pay project costs and sell terminals, while funding harbor maintenance, dredging, channel expansions, and anchorages that benefit shipping carriers, though Newtown Creek channel reductions restrict access.
Where it stands: HR9497 passed the House on September 16, 2026 by a 415 to 9 vote on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended, and was received in the Senate on September 17, 2026. Its House work is complete, having been marked up by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on July 14, 2026 and reported with the written report filed September 3, 2026, so the bill's fate now rests entirely with the Senate.

S 4965 US Senate Last action
August 4, 2026 BurdenLong shot

Railroad Retirement Board Stability Act

Bill Cassidy (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This bill establishes a dedicated account within the Treasury for the Railroad Retirement Board to manage administrative expenses and modernize its legacy IT systems, allocating at least $90 million for technology upgrades through fiscal year 2032. It also delays the annual premium payment deadline for certain single-employer pension plans to the fifteenth day of the ninth month of the plan year for plan years beginning after 2035. This bill requires Class I, II, and III railroads to consult with the Comptroller General on modernizing the Railroad Retirement Board's benefit processing systems, while funded upgrades to those systems improve benefit service for railroad employees.
Where it stands: The Railroad Retirement Board Stability Act was reported by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on August 4, 2026 and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders with Calendar No. 540. The committee ordered the measure reported during a markup on July 30, 2026, and the bill is now on the calendar without a written report, which is a standard procedural status that places the bill before the chamber.

HR 9338 US House Last action
July 21, 2026 MixedLong shot

Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026

Randy K. Weber, Sr. (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026 would reauthorize federal pipeline safety programs at roughly $183 million to $205 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (plus $30 million to $32 million annually from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, $65 million per year for a new grant program to repair, rehabilitate, or replace natural gas distribution pipelines, and $5 million per year for a voluntary information-sharing system), and it would raise the maximum civil pipeline safety penalties from $200,000 to $341,200 per violation and from $2 million to $3.412 million for related violations. It would also create a new crime carrying up to 10 years in prison for knowingly causing defects in pipeline components or tampering with valves, require review of special permit applications within 18 months, guarantee pipeline operators a formal hearing when a proposed compliance action exceeds $350,000 or a proposed civil penalty is at least $350,000, establish a confidential voluntary data-sharing system whose nonpublic information is shielded from most litigation and discovery, direct states to adopt leading practices in their one-call excavation damage prevention programs, require a federal rule on carbon dioxide pipeline safety within two years, and cap federal grant cost shares at 50 percent generally and 80 percent for systems serving areas with fewer than 50,000 residents. This bill directly reauthorizes and reshapes federal pipeline safety programs, hitting pipeline operators with higher civil penalties up to $341,200 per violation, new criminal liability, and a carbon dioxide pipeline rule, while granting them 18-month permit reviews, formal hearings, and litigation protection for shared safety data.
Where it stands: On July 21, 2026 the House Committee on Energy and Commerce ordered HR 9338, the Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026, reported in the nature of a substitute by a 41-8 vote at its markup, following markups on June 24, 2026 and July 20, 2026. The bill was referred on June 18, 2026 to both the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, no written report has been filed, and no calendar placement appears on the record.

S 2975 US Senate Last action
May 4, 2026 MixedLong shot

PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025

Ted Cruz (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The proposal would reauthorize funding for pipeline safety programs and mandate new studies on pipeline materials and hazards. It would also provide grants for public gas distribution repairs and adjust federal regulatory definitions and reporting duties. This bill directly affects pipeline operators by imposing new tank monitoring, hazard mitigation, and reporting duties, doubling civil penalties to $400,000, and adding cybersecurity and CO2 pipeline safety rules, while also funding repairs, limiting liability for safety data, and waiving some pressure testing.
Where it stands: The PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 passed the Senate with an amendment on April 29, 2026, and is currently pending in the House where it was held at the desk on May 4, 2026.

HR 10500 US House Last action
September 17, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Unleashing American Pipelines Act

Laurel M. Lee (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would narrow who can sue over federal approval of a natural gas pipeline certificate, allowing only the applicant or people facing direct and irreparable economic harm, and only within 180 days of the approval, while letting trade associations sue only if every one of their members meets that harm test. It would also make the DC Circuit Court of Appeals the sole forum for challenges claiming an agency acted beyond its authority and require courts, on one evidentiary ground, to substitute a clear-and-convincing-evidence standard for the substantial-evidence standard. This bill protects natural gas pipeline developers by sharply limiting who can sue over federal certificate approvals, imposing a 180-day filing deadline, and requiring tougher evidence standards, making approved pipelines far harder to challenge in court.
Where it stands: HR 10500 was referred on September 17, 2026 to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and in addition to the House Committee on the Judiciary for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, and no hearing or markup is scheduled in our calendar data.

SJRES 210 US Senate Last action
August 6, 2026 BenefitLong shot

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations; Notice of Decision".

Bernie Moreno (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This joint resolution would use the Congressional Review Act to strike down an Environmental Protection Agency decision that allowed California to enforce its own air pollution limits for nonroad engines used in commercial harbor craft, such as the rules covering ferries, tugboats, and other harbor vessels. The struck federal decision would have no force or effect. This bill voids the EPA rule approving California's commercial harbor craft pollution standards, so harbor craft and other water transportation operators are spared from complying with those stricter emissions requirements.
Where it stands: The joint resolution was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on August 6, 2026. It now sits at the committee stage, the first and most common choke point for Senate measures.

HR 9838 US House Last action
July 22, 2026 BenefitLong shot

National Security Interstate Pipeline Act

Ken Calvert (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would grant the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission exclusive authority to approve or deny designated interstate oil and natural gas pipelines deemed critical to national security, overriding state and local permitting laws. It would also allow the President to waive major environmental regulations and permit pipeline companies to use eminent domain to acquire necessary property interests. This bill gives interstate crude oil, natural gas, and refined product pipeline operators federal preemption of state and local permitting laws, eminent domain rights, deemed-approved federal authorizations, and possible waivers of major environmental laws for covered projects.
Where it stands: The bill is in the committee stage, having been referred on July 22, 2026 to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Natural Resources. The chairs of all three committees act as gatekeepers for the bill's advancement.

S 71 US Senate Last action
May 12, 2026 BurdenLong shot

Baby Changing on Board Act

Peter Welch (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This act would require Amtrak and other federally assisted intercity rail providers to install baby changing tables in restrooms on newly purchased passenger cars. It also mandates that these facilities be clearly marked with signage to indicate their presence. This bill requires Amtrak and other federally assisted intercity passenger rail providers to install a baby changing table in at least one restroom of every newly purchased passenger car and mark it with clear signage, adding equipment and compliance costs for rail operators.
Where it stands: The Senate passed S. 71 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent on May 11, 2026, and the measure was received in the House on May 12, 2026, where it is currently held at the desk.

HR 248 US House Last action
June 10, 2025 BurdenLong shot

Baby Changing on Board Act

Lauren Underwood (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This proposal would require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in at least one restroom on every car of new passenger trains purchased after the law is enacted. The bill mandates that these restrooms display signage to identify the presence of the changing tables. This bill requires Amtrak, the passenger rail operator in this industry, to install baby changing tables in at least one restroom per car on all new passenger trains it buys, with signage identifying them, at Amtrak's own expense.
Where it stands: The bill passed the House on June 9, 2025, and is currently pending in the Senate, where it was received, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on June 10, 2025. The Senate must pass identical text before the measure can proceed to the President.

HR 9543 US House Last action
June 30, 2026 BurdenLong shot

To amend the Act of July 5, 1884, to permit the imposition of taxes on vessels operating as tourist accommodations, and for other purposes.

Ed Case (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This bill would grant Congress's consent for state and local governments to impose taxes on vessels operating as cruise ships, as well as on their passengers and crew. It defines a cruise ship as any vessel that docks at a United States port and charges a fee for transient accommodations or living quarters. This bill allows state and local governments to tax cruise ship operators docking at US ports, as well as their passengers and crew, raising operating costs for cruise lines and adding fees for those traveling on them.
Where it stands: HR9543 was referred on June 30, 2026, to the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with the Speaker yet to determine the consideration period for each panel.

HR 4183 US House Last action
December 16, 2025 MixedLong shot

Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025

Dusty Johnson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill authorizes $49.2 million annually for the Federal Maritime Commission in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 while establishing new advisory committees for ports and ocean carriers. It also requires the Commission to investigate shipping exchanges for market manipulation and to issue rules governing the development of containerized freight price indexes. This bill renews funding for the Federal Maritime Commission, gives ocean common carriers relief from duplicative data reporting, and adds marine terminal operators to oversight reports and a new advisory committee for ports and ocean carriers.
Where it stands: The bill passed the House on December 15, 2025, and was received in the Senate on December 16, 2025, where it is referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The Senate must pass identical text before the measure can go to the President.

HR 9454 US House Last action
June 25, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Next Generation Shipping Act

Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This bill authorizes $1 billion annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2036 for a Department of Transportation program to provide grants and loans for zero-emission vessels and related infrastructure. It establishes an advisory committee to guide these efforts and prohibits the use of funds for automated vessels or cargo handling systems. This bill gives water transportation companies, vessel owners, and port and terminal operators access to $1 billion in annual federal grants and loans for zero-emission vessels and related infrastructure from 2027 through 2036, while barring funds for automated vessels.
Where it stands: The Next Generation Shipping Act was referred on June 25, 2026, to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Both committees are active referral points as the source does not establish one as primary.

S 4935 US Senate Last action
June 24, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Next Generation Shipping Act

Chris Van Hollen (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill establishes a program to provide grants, low-interest loans, and loan guarantees to support the development and deployment of zero-emission vessels and associated infrastructure. It authorizes $1 billion annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2036 to fund these projects while prohibiting the use of funds for automated vessel or cargo handling systems. This bill offers vessel owners, shipping and inland water operators, and port and terminal operators grants, low-interest loans, and loan guarantees funded at $1 billion annually to build and deploy zero-emission vessels and fueling infrastructure, while construction on funded projects must pay prevailing wages.
Where it stands: The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on June 24, 2026, where it currently awaits action.

S 4944 US Senate Last action
June 24, 2026 BenefitLong shot

American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026

Alan Armstrong (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill streamlines federal permitting for natural gas pipelines and other infrastructure by establishing FERC as the sole lead agency, setting strict deadlines for agency actions and judicial reviews, and limiting the scope of environmental reviews. It also modifies water quality certification procedures, extends permit terms to 10 years, allows multiple mill sites for hardrock mining, and creates a new Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund financed by claim maintenance fees. This bill directly benefits natural gas pipeline operators by making FERC the lead permitting agency, exempting federal permits from state water quality certification, and limiting courts from vacating FERC orders approving pipelines.
Where it stands: S4944 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on June 24, 2026. The bill is currently awaiting committee action, with no markup scheduled.

HR 9409 US House Last action
June 23, 2026 BurdenLong shot

Remote Control Locomotives Safety Improvement Act of 2026

Timothy M. Kennedy (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The act would prohibit railroad carriers from operating trains on main lines without a certified engineer physically present in the lead locomotive cab. It also mandates federal audits of major railroads and imposes civil penalties of at least one million dollars for violations. This bill requires railroads, especially large Class I carriers, to staff every main line train with a certified engineer in the cab instead of remote control, faces federal audits, and owes civil penalties of at least one million dollars per violation.
Where it stands: HR9409 is currently before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, having been referred there on June 23, 2026. The bill has not yet received a hearing or markup, and no future committee meetings are scheduled in the available calendar data.

S 4765 US Senate Last action
June 11, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Let America Build Act of 2026

John Barrasso (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would speed up energy development on federal land by requiring lease sale protests to be resolved within 60 days, shielding oil and gas leases from cancellation or delay through litigation, letting states apply to take over federal drilling permits, and barring federal fracking rules in states that have their own, while requiring the Energy Department to decide LNG export applications within 45 days or have them automatically approved. It would also make the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the sole reviewer of natural gas pipeline and transmission line projects and require other agencies to defer to its review and meet authorization deadlines, narrow the effects regulators may consider, set one to two year limits and other deadlines for mining permits, allow new mill site claims of up to five acres each, and bar court challenges to federal oil and gas decisions filed more than 60 days after the decision. This bill makes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the sole reviewer of natural gas pipeline projects, requires other agencies to defer and meet deadlines, and narrows the effects FERC may consider, speeding approvals for pipeline companies.
Where it stands: The bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on June 11, 2026, and it now sits in committee, where the chair decides whether anything happens at all.

S 4755 US Senate Last action
June 11, 2026 BenefitLong shot

DEEP Act

Mike Lee (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would require the Army Secretary to propose a new nationwide permit covering port and navigation channel dredging within 60 days of enactment, cap the environmental review at 2 years with a single environmental impact statement, force state water quality agencies to decide on certification requests within 14 days and act within 1 year (with unanswered requests deemed complete), and deem a dredging project approved if the agency misses its own 14 to 30 day decision deadlines. It would also repeal an existing federal dredged-material statute and strip dredged material out of the requirements governing transportation of valueless material. This bill benefits water transportation companies and port operators by requiring a faster nationwide dredging permit and exempting dredged material from federal water transportation requirements, while limiting state water quality review to one year.
Where it stands: S4755 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on June 11, 2026, and no further action appears in the record. It sits at the committee stage, where the committee is under no obligation to act and the chair decides whether anything happens.

S 4758 US Senate Last action
June 11, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Incentivizing the Expansion of U.S. Ports Act

Mike Lee (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would exempt dredging vessels from a citizenship-related certification and endorsement requirement and would remove dredged material from federal coastwise transportation requirements, so dredged material could be carried by vessels that do not meet those build and crewing rules. This bill lets dredging vessel operators earn federal certificates and endorsements without the usual citizen crew requirement, and lifts federal shipping rules from dredged material, while exposing domestic maritime operators to more foreign competition.
Where it stands: S4758, the Incentivizing the Expansion of U.S. Ports Act, was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on June 11, 2026. The bill now sits in committee, where the chair decides whether anything happens at all; most referred bills in this chamber never receive a hearing or markup.

HR 9229 US House Last action
June 9, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Seaport Security Act of 2026

Jimmy Patronis (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would make it a federal crime to fly a drone within the airspace over large US seaports, defined as ports handling at least one million tons of cargo a year or routinely serving multi-day cruise passengers, from the surface up to 1,000 feet and any additional area the FAA designates, with exceptions for federal agencies, law enforcement, the ports themselves and their contractors, FAA-waivered flights, and emergencies. Violators could face civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation plus seizure of the aircraft, and up to 2 years in prison, or 10 years if the flight was meant to surveil, damage, or aid criminal or terrorist activity, and both the FAA and seaports would be authorized to detect, seize, or disable unauthorized drones. This bill makes seaports handling large cargo or cruise volumes federal no-drone zones up to 1,000 feet, while granting port operators and their contractors new authority to detect, seize, or disable unauthorized drones and exempting their own security flights.
Where it stands: HR 9229 was referred on June 9, 2026 to the House Committee on the Judiciary and, in addition, to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, with each committee acting only on the provisions within its jurisdiction. Under House practice the referred stage is where bills most often stall, and no meetings on this bill appear in the calendar data.

HR 9185 US House Last action
June 8, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Alan S. Lowenthal Blue Whales, Blue Skies Act

Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would require NOAA, working with the Coast Guard, the EPA, and existing West Coast air and sanctuary agencies, to set up a voluntary Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program within 12 months that recognizes eligible vessels of 300 gross tons or more that transit the West Coast program area at 10 knots or slower to cut air pollution, underwater noise, and whale strikes, and give out annual Excellence Awards with an official logo those shipping companies may display. The program would be voluntary with no funding or financial incentives attached, and NOAA would report within 4 years on extending it to all Pacific coast shipping channels between Canada and Mexico. This bill lets shipping companies operating large vessels on the U.S. West Coast earn annual federal Excellence Awards and use an official logo for slowing their ships to cut air pollution and whale strikes, with no mandate or money involved.
Where it stands: HR9185 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 8, 2026, and has had no further action. It remains at the referred stage, where the committee chair's decision whether to act is the controlling factor.

HR 9181 US House Last action
June 8, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Rail Motive Power Source Integration Act of 2026

Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would direct the Federal Railroad Administration to set up a pilot program to research and test integrating multiple motive power sources, such as battery, electrification, hydrogen, and diesel, into passenger and freight rail, including developing rail car designs that can switch between power sources and running demonstration projects. It would also require a study identifying every location where trains must be switched because their power source cannot operate past that point, with a report to Congress due within one year of enactment. This bill has the Federal Railroad Administration run a funded pilot program to develop rail car designs letting passenger and freight trains switch between battery, hydrogen, and diesel power, benefiting rail operators with flexible equipment options.
Where it stands: HR 9181 was referred on June 8, 2026 to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and, in addition, to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, in each case for consideration of provisions within each committee's jurisdiction. The source establishes no primary panel, so both referrals stand and both committees remain active gatekeepers, with neither chair having taken any noticed action on the bill yet.

HR 3668 US House Last action
December 15, 2025 MixedLong shot

Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act

Richard Hudson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill designates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole lead agency for environmental reviews of natural gas pipelines and requires other federal and state agencies to coordinate with it under strict deadlines. It also exempts pipeline applicants from certain water quality certification requirements and allows third-party contractors to assist in the application review process. This bill makes FERC the lead agency for natural gas pipeline reviews, sets 90-day deadlines for authorizations, exempts applicants from state water quality certifications, and allows conditional approvals based on remote data, directly speeding permitting for pipeline operators.
Where it stands: The House passed the bill on December 12, 2025, and it was received in the Senate on December 15, 2025, where it was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

HR 9036 US House Last action
May 26, 2026 MixedLong shot

American High-Speed Rail Act

Seth Moulton (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would authorize roughly $205 billion over five fiscal years, 2027 through 2031, for high-speed rail, including $35 billion a year for corridor development, $3 billion a year for corridor planning, and $3 billion a year for rail technology improvements, while letting the federal government cover up to 100 percent of project costs and allowing private companies to join public agencies in applying for the money. It would also let freight railroads sell or lease their rights of way to federally funded rail projects tax free with matching federal grants, create a faster track for acquiring land before environmental reviews finish, and set labor rules making rail operators and many contractors subject to railroad retirement, labor, and unemployment laws, with carve outs for most construction contractors. This bill sends $193 billion to high-speed rail corridor development, lets freight rail carriers sell or lease rights-of-way with grants and tax-free gains, and deems project operators rail carriers subject to the Railroad Retirement Act.
Where it stands: HR 9036 was referred on May 26, 2026 to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and, in addition, to the House Committee on Ways and Means, each to consider the provisions within its own jurisdiction, and neither committee has taken any action beyond receiving the referral.

HR 8888 US House Last action
May 19, 2026 BurdenLong shot

Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act

Christopher R. Deluzio (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would void any pre-dispute arbitration agreement or class-action waiver between Amtrak and its customers, covering consumer disputes such as injury claims and civil rights claims, and would let courts rather than arbitrators decide whether the ban applies. It would take effect when signed and apply to disputes arising afterward, and it excludes disputes governed by the Railway Labor Act, such as those involving Amtrak employees. This bill requires Amtrak, the national passenger railroad, to stop enforcing mandatory arbitration clauses and class action waivers in passenger contracts, meaning consumer and civil rights disputes must be resolved in court.
Where it stands: HR8888 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 19, 2026 and sits at the start of the committee stage. Under House practice, the committee chair decides whether a hearing or markup is noticed, though leadership scheduling, suspension of the rules, a special rule, or discharge could provide a path without committee action.

S 4572 US Senate Last action
May 19, 2026 BurdenLong shot

Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act

Richard Blumenthal (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would void any pre-dispute arbitration agreement or waiver of class or joint claims that Amtrak tries to include in its ticket contracts, so passengers could bring consumer and civil rights claims, including personal injury claims, in court instead of arbitration, with the rule applying to disputes arising after enactment. This bill restricts Amtrak, the national passenger rail carrier, by invalidating mandatory arbitration clauses and class-action waivers in passenger contracts, forcing it to defend consumer and civil rights claims in court.
Where it stands: S4572 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on May 19, 2026, so it now sits at the committee stage. In this chamber that is the stage where most bills end, since a referred measure reaches the floor only if the committee or others move it.

S 4564 US Senate Last action
May 19, 2026 BurdenLong shot

Maritime Cybersecurity Act

Rick Scott (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would require the Coast Guard to run annual cybersecurity risk assessments of internet-connected software and hardware at covered maritime facilities and ports, including equipment made by or in foreign countries of concern, and would let those assessments proceed even when licensing contracts or facility owners object. It would also require covered facility owners and operators to report such foreign-made software and hardware to the government each year and certify it meets federal cybersecurity standards, with use of noncompliant products barred unless the Secretary grants a waiver. This bill directly regulates port and terminal facility owners and operators, requiring annual reports certifying that foreign software and hardware meet cybersecurity standards and banning non-compliant equipment unless waived.
Where it stands: S4564, the Maritime Cybersecurity Act, was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on May 19, 2026 and now sits there, where most bills in this chamber stall and where the committee is under no obligation to act.

HR 8853 US House Last action
May 15, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Amtrak Grant Flexibility Act

Jennifer L. McClellan (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would change federal rail grant rules so Amtrak could use grant money it receives from the federal government to count as the non-Federal match for three passenger rail grant programs, including national infrastructure project assistance grants, consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements grants, and Federal-State partnership grants. It would also let applicants for Federal-State partnership grants use Amtrak grant funds tied to the national network or the Northeast Corridor to meet their share of project costs. This bill lets Amtrak use federal grant funds it receives to satisfy the non-federal matching requirements for rail infrastructure grants, easing its access to funding as the main intercity passenger railroad in this industry.
Where it stands: HR8853, the Amtrak Grant Flexibility Act, was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 15, 2026 and has had no further action; it sits at the committee stage, where the chair decides whether to notice a hearing or a markup, though committee action is the ordinary route rather than an absolute prerequisite.

HR 8808 US House Last action
May 14, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Cable Security Fleet Expansion Act

Max L. Miller (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would expand the Cable Security Fleet, a program for cable-laying ships, from two vessels to at least six, and would raise the annual cap on payments to each fleet vessel from $5 million to up to $7 million. It would also raise the program's authorized funding from $10 million to $56 million per year, applying to fiscal years 2027 through 2040. This bill expands the Cable Security Fleet from two to at least six cable-laying ships and raises annual federal payments per vessel from $5 million to up to $7 million, with yearly funding rising to $56 million, benefiting shipping operators in that fleet.
Where it stands: HR8808 was referred to the House Committee on Armed Services on May 14, 2026 and has had no further action since, leaving the bill stalled at the referral stage.

HR 8509 US House Last action
April 27, 2026 BurdenLong shot

To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period for which certain regulations concerning the North Atlantic right whale are effective.

Jared F. Golden (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would amend a 2023 appropriations law to extend the period during which existing regulations protecting the North Atlantic right whale remain effective, changing the expiration date from 2028 to 2035. In practice, the rules that would otherwise lapse in 2028 would stay in force for seven more years under the proposal. This bill keeps existing North Atlantic right whale regulations, including vessel speed and operations restrictions, in effect through 2035 instead of 2028, so shipping operators in right whale waters stay bound by those rules for seven more years.
Where it stands: HR8509 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on April 27, 2026 and has had no further action since. It sits at the committee stage, where the chair decides whether a hearing or a markup is ever noticed, though committee action is the ordinary route rather than an absolute prerequisite.

HR 8468 US House Last action
April 23, 2026 BurdenLong shot

Protecting American Railroad Workers’ Jobs Act of 2026

Chris Pappas (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill requires freight trains crossing from Mexico into the United States to stop at the border for a crew change and safety testing. It mandates that only U.S. nationals or authorized aliens based in the United States operate these trains after they cross the border. This bill requires US railroads running freight trains across the southern border to stop for crew changes and safety testing, and bars foreign crews from operating them after entry, adding delays and costs but domestic work.
Where it stands: HR8468 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 23, 2026. The measure currently sits at the committee stage where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs.

HR 8450 US House Last action
April 22, 2026 BurdenLong shot

Save Willy Act of 2026

Sam T. Liccardo (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This act would establish a four-year pilot program within the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service that creates a dedicated Cetacean Desk to monitor whale sightings and coordinate with vessel operators to reduce strikes. The program requires the Coast Guard to evaluate emerging technologies for tracking whales and to implement local variances that facilitate voluntary communication and reporting between ships and traffic controllers regarding marine mammal locations. This bill requires shipping and vessel operators in San Francisco Bay to communicate and report whale sightings with the new Cetacean Desk, and directs ports to coordinate on voluntary guidance to reduce whale strikes.
Where it stands: HR 8450 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 22, 2026. The committee chair controls whether a markup occurs, though leadership may bypass this stage.

HR 8410 US House Last action
April 21, 2026 BurdenLong shot

Safe Tracks Act

Laura Gillen (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This proposal directs the Secretary of Transportation to amend federal regulations to apply specific safety oversight requirements to centralized computer-aided train-dispatching systems and centralized traffic control boards. The rule changes would cover both existing systems and any future deployments of this technology. This bill requires railroads to bring both existing and future centralized computer-aided train-dispatching systems into compliance with new federal safety oversight rules, raising compliance costs and administrative work for rail operators.
Where it stands: HR 8410 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 21, 2026, with no subsequent actions recorded. The bill currently resides in the committee's queue, where the chair exercises discretion over whether to schedule hearings or markups.

HR 8417 US House Last action
April 21, 2026 BurdenLong shot

Keeping China Off the Rails Act

John R. Moolenaar (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This act requires railroad freight cars on the general system to meet manufacturing and content standards, with a phased implementation that expands the scope of regulated cars over a four-year period. It also corrects a typographical error in the name of the Association of American Railroads within existing code. This bill requires railroads operating freight cars on the general system to ensure their fleets meet new manufacturing and content standards under a four-year phase-in, directly burdening rail transportation companies with compliance costs.
Where it stands: HR 8417 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 21, 2026. The bill is currently stalled in committee, where the chair controls whether any further action occurs.

HR 8315 US House Last action
April 15, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Modal Parity in Permitting Act

Dina Titus (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill allows transit and passenger rail recipients to use federal assistance to acquire real property interests before environmental reviews are complete, provided the land is not physically developed until those reviews finish. It also directs the Federal Transit Administration to update its guidance to reflect these changes within six months of enactment. This bill lets passenger rail operators receiving federal transit assistance use those funds to buy or control land before environmental reviews finish, as long as the land is not developed until reviews are complete, speeding up rail projects.
Where it stands: HR 8315 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 15, 2026. The companion Senate bill, S 5080, was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on July 22, 2026.

S 4300 US Senate Last action
April 15, 2026 BenefitLong shot

JOAN Act

Tom Cotton (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This bill designates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole lead agency for environmental reviews of natural gas projects, requiring other federal and state agencies to defer to its scope and timeline while exempting applicants from state water quality certifications. It also restricts judicial review by mandating that all legal challenges be filed within 60 days and decided within 180 days, prohibiting courts from vacating permits and limiting injunctions to 60 days. This bill benefits natural gas pipeline companies by making FERC the sole environmental review agency, exempting them from state water quality certifications, setting strict challenge deadlines, and letting them keep building during lawsuits.
Where it stands: The JOAN Act is stalled in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources following its referral on April 15, 2026. No upcoming meetings are scheduled for the bill in the committee.

HR 3062 US House Last action
September 19, 2025 MixedLong shot

Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act

Julie Fedorchak (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would replace the presidential permit process for oil, natural gas, and electric transmission facilities crossing US borders with a new federal certificate that the relevant agency must issue within 120 days of completing environmental review unless the project is found not in the public interest, and it would bar the President from revoking existing permits unless Congress authorizes it. It would also speed approvals by requiring FERC to decide natural gas import or export applications involving Canada and Mexico within 30 days, repealing the separate Federal Power Act order requirement for cross-border electricity transmission and removing any presidential permit requirement outright. This bill requires oil and natural gas pipeline companies to obtain a certificate of crossing for border-crossing facilities but replaces the Presidential permit with faster FERC approvals within 120 or 30 day deadlines, speeding cross-border projects for incumbent and new operators.
Where it stands: H.R. 3062 passed the House by a 224 to 203 recorded vote on September 18, 2025, and on September 19, 2025 it was received in the Senate, read twice, and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, where it now pends.

HR 2140 US House Last action
September 16, 2026 BenefitLong shot

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025

Sector-wide

Doris O. Matsui (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would extend the diesel emissions reduction program under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for five more years, changing its authorization end date from 2024 to 2029. This keeps the existing federal program, which funds projects to cut diesel engine pollution, operating through fiscal year 2029. This bill keeps federal diesel emissions grants and rebates running through 2029, directly funding railroads, shipping lines, and port operators to retrofit or replace diesel locomotives, marine engines, and cargo-handling equipment.
Where it stands: The House passed the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025 on September 15, 2026 under suspension of the rules by a two-thirds vote of 343 to 79, and the Senate received it on September 16, 2026, read it twice, and placed it on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 624. The bill is no longer before the House and now awaits Senate action, with identical Senate passage required before anything can go to the President.

HR 4802 US House Last action
December 1, 2025 BurdenLong shot

Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025

Sector-wide

Dusty Johnson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The measure would prevent the Department of Transportation from awarding contracts or grants to entities that use or buy LiDAR technology from specific foreign companies or countries. It also restricts the use of federal loan and grant funds for purchasing this type of technology, with an effective date on June 30, 2026.
Where it stands: The bill is currently before the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, having been referred there on December 1, 2025, after initial referral to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on July 29, 2025. No meetings are currently scheduled, and the subcommittee chair controls whether the measure proceeds to a hearing or markup.

HR 487 US House Last action
January 16, 2025 BurdenLong shot

Hawaii Invasive Species Protection Act

Sector-wide

Ed Case (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This bill would require federal agencies to conduct visual, x-ray, and canine quarantine inspections for high-risk invasive species on all persons, baggage, and cargo traveling to or from Hawaii. The measure would also authorize the collection of user fees from travelers and shippers to cover the full cost of these inspection services.
Where it stands: The bill was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture on January 16, 2025. This places the measure in the committee stage, where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup is scheduled.

May also reach

Measures that reach Rail, Water & Pipeline Transport indirectly

Through a product these businesses make, a customer they serve, a competitor, or a study about them. Read these as possibilities, not duties.

HR 8405 US House Last action
April 21, 2026 May reachLong shot

Railroad Retirement Fairness Act

Christopher R. Deluzio (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This bill would remove a provision from the Railroad Retirement Act that currently reduces annuity payments when recipients also receive certain other government pensions. It aims to ensure that railroad retirees receive their full calculated annuity without these specific deductions. This bill benefits rail carriers' retired workers by removing the pension offset that reduces their railroad retirement annuities, raising retiree income without imposing new costs or obligations on rail employers.
Where it stands: HR 8405 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 21, 2026. The companion measure S 4362 is also in committee, having been read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on the same date.

S 4362 US Senate Last action
April 21, 2026 May reachLong shot

Railroad Retirement Fairness Act of 2026

Christopher A. Coons (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This bill eliminates specific deductions from railroad retirement annuities by removing a subdivision from the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974. Consequently, eligible retirees would receive higher monthly payments by not having these particular amounts subtracted from their benefits. This bill raises monthly railroad retirement annuity payments for railroad retirees by removing specified deductions, easing retiree benefit pressures on railroad employers, though it does not directly change railroad operations or costs.
Where it stands: The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, having been read twice and referred there on April 21, 2026. This position indicates the measure is subject to committee consideration, though no hearing or markup has been scheduled.

HR 4760 US House Last action
July 25, 2025 May reachLong shot

Cutting LNG Bunkering Red Tape Act

Laurel M. Lee (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill clarifies that supplying natural gas to vessels for marine fuel is not considered an export requiring federal licensing, unless the transfer occurs in foreign waters. This exemption applies to bunkering operations in U.S. territorial seas and inland waters regardless of the vessels' flag or registry. This bill exempts LNG refueling of ships in U.S. waters from federal export licensing, so shipping lines and marine fuel suppliers can bunker faster and at lower compliance cost.
Where it stands: HR 4760 is referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as of July 25, 2025. The committee chair controls whether a hearing or markup is scheduled, though leadership retains the ability to bypass this stage.

HR 3647 US House Last action
May 30, 2025 May reachLong shot

SAFE CROSS Act

Kevin Mullin (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This act requires the Federal Railroad Administration to study the benefits and challenges of using artificial intelligence sensors at rail crossings to improve safety. The agency must complete the study within one year of enactment and publish the findings and best practices on a public website within 30 days of completion. This bill directs the Federal Railroad Administration to study the benefits and challenges of AI-enabled sensors at rail crossings, giving railroads findings that could pressure them to upgrade crossing safety technology.
Where it stands: The bill is at the subcommittee stage within the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, having been referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on May 30, 2025. The subcommittee chair controls whether the measure proceeds to a hearing or markup, though leadership retains the ability to bypass committee action entirely.

HR 2073 US House Last action
September 3, 2025 May reachLong shot

Defending our Dams Act

Dan Newhouse (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This act prohibits the use of federal funds to study, plan, or assist with the breach or removal of four specific dams on the Lower Snake River in Washington. It also requires that the Army Secretary and the Bonneville Power Administration Administrator jointly approve any spillage operations at these dams. This bill protects inland water carriers and port operators on the Lower Snake River by barring federal funds for dam breach or removal studies, and gives BPA joint approval over spill operations at those dams.
Where it stands: HR2073 is stalled after subcommittee hearings held on September 3, 2025, following its March 11, 2025 referral to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Natural Resources. The source does not establish a primary committee, so both chairs currently control whether the measure advances to markup.

HR 1838 US House Last action
March 28, 2025 May reachLong shot

Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act

Stacey E. Plaskett (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize broadband funding applications for rural ports and precision agriculture projects while allowing up to 75 percent grant coverage for specific high-need areas. It also permits the Secretary to obligate funds before environmental reviews are complete if site-specific reviews can be conducted later without compromising the project. This bill helps rural port operators by giving broadband projects serving their ports equal funding priority and grants covering up to 75 percent of costs, improving internet infrastructure at rural ports.
Where it stands: HR1838 is in committee, having been referred on March 4, 2025, to the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. On March 28, 2025, the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.

HR 2125 US House Last action
March 14, 2025 May reachLong shot

SOS Act of 2025

Mark E. Green (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: This act establishes a temporary national commission to study the condition of the United States maritime industry and barriers to its competitiveness. The commission must submit a report with policy recommendations to the President and Congress within one year of its first meeting and then terminate 30 days later. This bill creates a commission to study the US maritime industry, so water transportation operators such as deep sea, coastal, and Great Lakes carriers will be examined and may gain from its recommendations to improve competitiveness.
Where it stands: The SOS Act of 2025 is stalled in the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, having been referred to both the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Armed Services on March 14, 2025. Since no primary committee is designated, the chairs of these panels act as independent gatekeepers for any hearing or markup.

HR 5109 US House Last action
September 16, 2026 May reachLong shot

Transportation Worker Identification Credential Efficiency Act

Troy A. Carter (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would require the Transportation Security Administration to develop, within one year of enactment, guidelines to improve access to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program for people released from incarceration, to help jailed individuals pre-apply or prepare applications for the credential, and to help people seeking an appeal or waiver of a finding that they are ineligible. The TSA Administrator would also have to brief the House Homeland Security Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee on implementation within 180 days after the guidelines are developed. This bill requires TSA to help formerly and currently incarcerated people apply for and appeal the TWIC credential needed for secure port jobs, indirectly expanding the pool of credentialed workers available to water transportation and port employers.
Where it stands: HR5109 passed the House on September 16, 2026 by voice vote under suspension of the rules, as amended, after the House Committee on Homeland Security ordered it reported at a June 24, 2026 markup and filed its written report on September 15, 2026. It was received in the Senate the same day, read twice, and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, so it is no longer before the House and now awaits Senate action.

HR 7625 US House Last action
September 15, 2026 May reachLong shot

MTS CYBER Act of 2026

Addison P. McDowell (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would direct the Government Accountability Office to complete, within 270 days of enactment, a review of whether the Coast Guard has enough funding, personnel, training, and guidance to carry out its cybersecurity oversight duties for the marine transportation system as a Sector Risk Management Agency. The Comptroller General would then submit the review's findings and recommendations to the relevant Senate and House committees overseeing commerce, appropriations, homeland security, and transportation. This bill directs a GAO review of whether the Coast Guard has the funding, staff, training, and guidance to oversee cybersecurity rules for vessels, ports, and other marine transportation businesses, with findings reported to Congress.
Where it stands: On September 15, 2026 the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a markup and ordered the bill reported as amended by voice vote; the bill was also referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security on February 20, 2026, which has not yet acted. No written report has been filed and no calendar placement exists on the record.

HR 8748 US House Last action
May 20, 2026 May reachLong shotNew text pending

Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2026

Vince Fong (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would extend the authorization years for federal highway and intermodal transportation research programs, the university transportation centers program, and rail research programs through fiscal year 2031, and would direct the Transportation Department to give its statistics director exclusive authority over transportation statistics and to establish an internal council to coordinate and identify ways to reduce duplicative data collection. It would also require the department to plan a transition of a pilot program into a sustained open research initiative, to arrange a study of how high-intensity LED and matrix LED headlamps affect driver visibility, glare, and roadway safety, and to produce a strategy encouraging standardized use of reclaimed asphalt pavement on roadways nationwide. This bill extends rail research program funding through fiscal 2031 and directs rail research toward safety challenges facing commuter, passenger, and freight rail, benefiting railroads through expanded federal research grants and R&D support.
Where it stands: The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a markup on May 20, 2026 and ordered the bill reported as amended by voice vote; the amended text is still pending, with disposition of several members' amendments unresolved. No written report or calendar placement is on the record, and the May 12, 2026 multiple referral keeps both the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in play, with each panel's chair a gatekeeper.

HR 10607 US House Last action
September 24, 2026 May reachLong shot

American Fuel Affordability Act

W. Gregory Steube (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would repeal federal excise taxes on diesel fuel for sales after enactment, while requiring the Treasury to transfer general fund money to the Highway Trust Fund and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund to replace the revenue those taxes generated. It would also create a 35 percent investment tax credit for building new oil refineries in the United States that start construction before 2032, a 5 cents per gallon production credit for gasoline and diesel made at those new refineries, and would make the special depreciation allowance for such refinery property permanent. This bill repeals the federal excise tax on diesel fuel, lowering fuel costs for railroads that burn diesel in trains, while new refinery tax credits indirectly support their fuel supply.
Where it stands: The bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on September 24, 2026 and sits at the start of the committee stage, with no hearing or markup yet noticed. The Ways and Means chair decides whether the bill ever gets a hearing or a markup, but committee action is not the only route since House leadership tools such as suspension, a special rule, or discharge can provide another path.

S 5487 US Senate Last action
September 23, 2026 May reachLong shot

TWICE Act

John Kennedy (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does: The bill would require the Transportation Security Administration to develop guidelines within one year to improve access to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program for people released from incarceration, to help currently incarcerated individuals pre-apply or prepare applications, and to assist people seeking appeals or waivers of ineligibility determinations. It would also require the TSA Administrator to brief the relevant House and Senate committees within 180 days after the guidelines are developed on how the directive is being implemented. This bill requires the TSA to issue guidelines making it easier for formerly incarcerated people to obtain the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, expanding the pool of credentialed workers available to port and water transportation employers.
Where it stands: The TWICE Act (S5487) was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on September 23, 2026, so it sits at the committee stage, the chamber's most common kill point. Its committee has taken no further action on the bill in our data, and no meetings are scheduled in our calendar data.

One of these bills names your business.

Subscribe under Rail, Water & Pipeline Transport and Tocsin carries your position on the measures you choose from this docket, files what the law requires, and reports monthly. Introductory for $249 a month. Standard for $499. No portal, no password; this docket is yours, and the reports arrive by email.

IntroductoryCorrespondence on 1 bill a month, monthly reports$249/mo StandardCorrespondence on 3 a month, in-person on 1 a quarter, quarterly letter and legislator list$499/mo PremiumCorrespondence on 5 a month, in-person on 3 a quarter, quarterly briefing call$999/mo Subscribe under Rail, Water & Pipeline Transport → Compare plans in detail →

Previous← Physicians & Outpatient Care NextReal Estate & Leasing →