Van Orden Debuts Rail Inspector Safety Act

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.)

WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would be able to add more investigators to its team under the Rail Inspector Safety Act, which Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) introduced June 13 and separately introduced as an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023, which passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the same day.

The Act (download below) would appropriate an additional $3 million for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to increase the number of railroad, pipeline and hazardous materials investigators within the NTSB.

According to Rep. Van Orden’s office, the bill would allow for an additional 14 rail investigators and “provide sorely needed relief to the NTSB’s investigation backlog, as well as help deliver more timely and thorough accident reports to Congress.”

“The Rail Inspector Safety Act will improve rail safety and ensure businesses can send their goods across America with confidence,” Rep. Van Orden said in a statement. “This bill will help officials get to the bottom of derailments faster and make our communities safer.”

Separately, the NTSB on June 22-23 will hold a two-day investigative hearing in East Palestine, Ohio, as part of the ongoing investigation into the Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern (NS) train and subsequent material release and fires.

Additionally, S.576, the Rail Safety Act of 2023, on May 10 was passed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.