Federal Railroad Safety Authorization Act of 1976
Public Law 94-348 · H.R. 11804 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Jul 8, 1976 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Rep. Harley Staggers (D-WV-2)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Federal Railroad Safety Authorization Act - Authorizes to be appropriated not to exceed $35,000,000 for the fiscal year 1977, and not to exceed $35,000,000 for the fiscal year 1978 to carry out the provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970.
Limits the aggregate of the amounts obligated and expended for research and development activities under this Act in any fiscal year to not more than the aggregate of the amounts expended for rail inspection and rail safety inspection and enforcement.
Increases the maximum penalties which may be assessed for violating specified railroad safety provisions.
Makes it unlawful for any common carrier not to provide its employees with sleeping quarters which provide them with an opportunity for uninterrupted rest in quarters having controlled temperatures and which are located away from a yard where switching or humping operations are performed.
Permits the crew of a wreck or relief train to be or remain on duty for not to exceed four additional hours in any period of 24 consecutive hours wherever an actual emergency exists and work of the crew is related to such emergency.
Revises the definition of employee to include hostlers.
Makes it unlawful for any common carrier, its officers or agents: (1) to require or permit an individual employed by the carrier who is engaged in installing, repairing or maintaining signal systems, in case such individual shall have been continuously on duty for 12 hours, to continue on duty or to go on duty until he has had at least ten consecutive hours off duty; or (2) to require or permit such an individual to continue on duty or to go on duty when he has not had at least eight consecutive hours off duty during the preceding 24 hours.
Permits individuals engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining signal systems to be or remain on duty for not to exceed four additional hours whenever an actual emergency exists.
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue necessary regulations to require the rear car of passenger, commuter and freight trains to have highly visible markers which are lighted during periods of darkness or restricted visibility.
Divides the Federal Railroad Administration into not less than eight regional safety offices for the purpose of administering and enforcing all Federal railroad safety laws.
Requires the Office of Technology Assessment to evaluate the Federal Railroad Safety Program and to report to Congress within 18 months the results of such evaluation.
Provides for judicial review of the powers, functions, and duties transferred to the Secretary from the Interstate Commerce Commission in the U.S. district courts.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.
- Jul 8, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-348.
- Jun 29, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Jun 28, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jun 25, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Jun 24, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Jun 11, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #362 (332-11).House roll call 362
- May 15, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Feb 9, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.