PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 8, 1994
Federal Railroad Safety Authorization Act of 1994 - Amends the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 to authorize appropriations for FY 1995 through 1998 for railroad research and development and general safety operations. Amends the Hours of Service Act to authorize railroads, and labor organizations representing railroad employees, to jointly petition the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) for approval of a waiver of limitations on hours of service with respect to such employees in order to establish one or more pilot projects to demonstrate the possible benefits of implementing alternatives to such limitations, including those concerning maximum on-duty and minimum off-duty periods. Authorizes the Secretary to waive compliance with such limitations for up to two years if it is in the public interest and is consistent with railroad safety. Requires the Secretary to report biennially (currently, annually) to the President and the Congress on the administration of Federal railroad safety rules and standards.
People & committees
Rep. Swift, Al [D-WA-2] · D–WA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate in lieu of S. 2132 with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 2132 with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S. 2132 amended.
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S14425-14426)
Senate Committee on Commerce discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Senate Committee on Commerce discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 395 - 0 (Roll no. 379).
House roll call 379 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 395 - 0 (Roll no. 379).
House roll call 379 · Individual votesConsidered as unfinished business. (CR H7168-7169)
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7137-7139)
Ms. Schenk moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 355.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 103-655.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 103-655.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Hazardous Materials.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4215-4216)
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.4545 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.4545 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.4545 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.4545 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.