During the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup of the BUILD America 250 Act, U.S. Representative Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced an amendment (Amendment 294) that includes language from her Secure Tracks Act protecting visual track inspection frequencies by codifying the twice per week visual track inspection requirement while also requiring railroads to use Track Geometry Measurement Systems (TGMS) as a supplement, not a replacement to human visual inspections. Representative Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) co-led the amendment.

In a bipartisan 35-31 vote, members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee adopted the Titus and Van Drew amendment that includes important language from our Secure Tracks Act.

The BMWED would like to thank the 35 members, including 4 Republicans and 31 Democrats, who value the safety of their communities and rail workers and voted to ensure that our rail infrastructure continues to be inspected and monitored by knowledgeable experts.

“This committee vote is an important step forward for rail safety and for every BMWED member who has worked to make sure visual track inspections remain a fundamental part of maintaining this nation’s rail infrastructure,” said BMWED President Tony D. Cardwell. “Our members have written, called, testified, documented defects, submitted statements, and explained in clear terms why Automated Track Inspection technology cannot replace the trained eyes, experience, and judgment of Maintenance of Way professionals. This vote reflects that work, and every member who helped carry this issue forward should take pride in what was accomplished today.”

Cardwell continued, “We also know this is one step in a larger fight. This amendment must still move through the full House of Representatives and the Senate. BMWED will continue working with members of Congress, safety advocates, and our membership to get this language across the finish line. We deeply appreciate Representatives Titus and Van Drew and their staff for introducing this amendment and for standing with railroad workers and the communities that depend on safe rail operations.”

This amendment is now included in the BUILD America 250 Act which the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed today and will be considered by the full House of Representatives at a later date.

The BMWED sends our appreciation to Representative Titus and her staff, Mitch Moonier and Claire Shanklin, and Representative Van Drew and his staff, Noah Garber, for introducing the amendment language and progressing our number one issue forward.

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