Bill > S844

This bill, the Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act, aims to provide assistance to state and local emergency response groups during hazardous train events. The key provisions are: 1. The bill authorizes the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator to declare a "hazardous train event" within 3 days of a train derailment, crash, or other incident involving hazardous materials. This declaration triggers an immediate $250,000 award from the newly established "Hazardous Train Event Emergency Reimbursement Fund" to eligible entities (state/local emergency response groups) for response costs. 2. The Administrator can award up to $3 million per event from the Fund to cover additional costs such as replacing damaged equipment, paying overtime for responders, and other operational expenses. 3. The bill requires railroads transporting hazardous materials to provide advance warning and real-time location information to local emergency response groups. 4. It also imposes a new "Hazardous Materials Emergency Reimbursement Fee" on shippers and carriers of hazardous materials by rail, with the revenue going to the Hazardous Train Event Emergency Reimbursement Fund. The goal is to ensure local responders have the resources they need to effectively address hazardous train incidents and protect public health and safety.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/844/all-info