Safe Rails Act of 2002

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 540.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 01 · Reported to Senate with amendment(s) · Aug 1, 2002

Safe Rails Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to: (1) conduct a comprehensive vulnerability assessment and security needs analysis of hazardous materials transportation in the railroad freight transportation industry; (2) assess the security risks associated with such transportation; and (3) develop prioritized recommendations for improving the security of rail tunnels, rail bridges, rail switching areas, and other areas posing significant rail-related risks to human health and public safety and the movement of interstate commerce, and for dealing with the immediate and long-term economic impact of measures that may be required to address those risks. Requires a report to specified congressional committees within 180 days after enactment of this Act.Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a Rail Security Fund account in the Treasury from which the Secretary of Transportation may make grants of up to $100 million annually to freight railroads, hazardous materials shippers, or owners of tank cars used in the transportation of hazardous materials, for full or partial reimbursement of costs incurred on or after September 11, 2001, in the conduct of specified activities to prevent or respond to acts of terrorism, sabotage, or other security threats. Permits grants to railroads of more than $100 million annually if as a result of the security risk assessment the Secretary determines that critical rail transportation security needs require reimbursement to any eligible entity in such amounts. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2003 and 2004.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV] · D–WV

Committees

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Aug 1, 2002
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 540.
Aug 1, 2002
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Hollings with amendments. With written report No. 107-232.
Aug 1, 2002
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Hollings with amendments. With written report No. 107-232.
Apr 18, 2002
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Dec 20, 2001
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Dec 20, 2001
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13960-13961)
Dec 20, 2001
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Reported to Senate · Aug 1, 2002 Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in Senate · Dec 20, 2001 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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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Analyze S.1871 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.

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Discuss S.1871, 107th Congress: Safe Rails Act of 2002

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1871

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2002-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1871/BILLS-107s1871rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1871 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.

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Progressive lens

Examine S.1871 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.

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Discuss S.1871, 107th Congress: Safe Rails Act of 2002

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1871

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2002-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1871/BILLS-107s1871rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1871 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.

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Examine S.1871 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.

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Discuss S.1871, 107th Congress: Safe Rails Act of 2002

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1871

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2002-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1871/BILLS-107s1871rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1871 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.

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Liberty lens

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Discuss S.1871, 107th Congress: Safe Rails Act of 2002

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1871

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2002-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1871/BILLS-107s1871rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1871 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.