To establish a program, coordinated by the National Transportation Safety Board, of assistance to families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents.
Declares it shall be the responsibility of the director of family support services to request, as soon as practicable, from the rail passenger carrier involved in an accident a list of the names of the passengers who were aboard the carrier's train. Authorizes a designated organization also to request such list from such carrier. Prohibits the director of family support services and a designated organization from releasing list information to any person, except that information about a passenger may be provided to the passenger's family to the extent considered appropriate by the director or organization. Requires the Board, in the course of its investigation of an accident, to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the families of passengers involved in the accident are: (1) briefed, prior to any public briefing about the accident and any other findings from the investigation; and (2) individually informed of and allowed to attend any public hearings and meetings of the Board about such accident.
Prohibits: (1) a person (including a State or political subdivision) from impeding the ability of the Board (including the director of family support services) or the designated organization to carry out its responsibilities under this Act, or the ability of the families of passengers involved in an accident to have contact with one another; (2) unsolicited communication concerning a potential action for personal injury or wrongful death to be made by an attorney or any potential party to the litigation to an individual (other than an employee of the rail passenger carrier) injured in an accident, or to a relative of an individual involved in such accident, before the 45th day following the date of the accident; and (3) a State or political subdivision from preventing the employees, agents, or volunteers of an organization from providing mental health and counseling services in the 30-day period beginning on the date of an accident.
Directs each rail passenger carrier to submit to the Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of the Board a plan for addressing the needs of the families of passengers involved in a rail passenger accident resulting in a major loss of life. Shields a rail passenger carrier from liability for damages (except for gross negligence or intentional misconduct) in any action brought in a Federal or State court arising out of the carrier's performance in preparing or providing a passenger list, or in providing information concerning a train reservation, pursuant to the carrier's plan.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 36 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 554 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be read by section. Bill is open to amendments.
Rule H. Res. 36 passed House.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 36. (consideration: CR H330-334)
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 554 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be read by section. Bill is open to amendments.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 36 and Rule XXIII.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Jo Ann Emerson to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 554.
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The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 554.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair put the question on final passage and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Quinn demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of passage until later in the legislative day.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H348-349)
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 404 - 4 (Roll no. 15).(text: CR H333-334)
Roll Call #15 (House)On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 404 - 4 (Roll no. 15). (text: CR H333-334)
Roll Call #15 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.