Rail Inspectors Amendment Passes in FAA Reauthorization

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, the House of Representatives passed the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act. Included in the bill was funding for new National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) inspectors – answering Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) calls for increased rail inspectors in the Rail Inspector Safety Act, which was also submitted as an amendment to the bill.

“I am proud that elements of the Rail Inspector Safety Act were passed within the new FAA reauthorization bill,” said Van Orden. “This means that our rail inspectors will be able to get to the bottom of derailments faster and our broader transportation system will be safer.”

"I would like to thank Congressman Van Orden for his leadership on behalf of transportation safety in Wisconsin and throughout the United States," said NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy. "Because of his direct efforts on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the NTSB will have more of the necessary resources to help prevent derailments and other accidents across all modes of transportation. The bipartisan FAA reauthorization passed by the House includes this funding for the NTSB. A small and responsible investment in the NTSB is a large investment in safety.”

Van Orden’s Rail Inspector Safety Act was proposed following a train derailment in De Soto in April 2023. The investigation following the derailment still has not been completed.