PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 200.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 15, 2001
Rail Security Act of 2001 - Authorizes emergency appropriations to Amtrak for: (1) systemwide security upgrades, including reimbursement of extraordinary security-related costs incurred by it since September 11, 2001, such as the hiring and training of additional police officers, canine-assisted security units, and surveillance equipment; (2) completion of New York tunnel life safety projects and rehabilitation of tunnels in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland; and (3) increased accessibility of Penn Station, New York City, for safety and emergency response situations, renovations to the Thames and Niantic Bridges in Connecticut, and improved safety operations through an advanced civil speed enforcement system radio system in high-speed territory. Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from making such amounts available to Amtrak until a plan has been submitted to the Secretary for approval.Directs the Secretary, as necessary, to prescribe regulations and issue orders for every area of railroad safety, including the security of railroad operations. Directs the Secretary to review existing Department of Transportation rail regulations to identify areas in which they need to be revised to improve rail safety and security.Directs the Secretary to assess the security risks associated with rail transportation and develop prioritized recommendations for: (1) improving the security of rail tunnels, rail bridges, rail switching areas, and other areas identified as posing significant rail-related risks to public safety and the movement of interstate commerce; and (2) dealing with the immediate and long-term economic impact of measures that may be required to address such risks.
People & committees
Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC] · D–SC
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 200.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Hollings without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Hollings without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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