HR 2095110th CongressSigned into LawHouse

Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2008

Policy Area: Transportation and Public Works

View on Congress.gov

Origin Chamber

House

Last Updated

Apr 7, 2025

Latest Action Date

Oct 16, 2008

Primary Sponsor

Sponsor

Bill Sponsor

Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8]

DMN

View Full Member Profile →

Sponsor Committees

Related committee information is not available for this bill yet.

Legislative Timeline

Signed into Law

2007-05-01Referred to Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

2007-05-01Introduced

Introduced in House

2007-05-02Referred to Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

2007-05-02IntroReferral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E916-917)

2007-05-10IntroReferral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1015-1017)

2007-05-22Committee

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .

2007-05-22Committee

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

2007-06-14Reported

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

2007-06-14Committee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

2007-09-19Calendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 208.

2007-09-19Reported

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 110-336.

2007-10-10Reported

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 724 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2095 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against the consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now printed in the bill.

2007-10-17Floor

The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 2095.

2007-10-17Floor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

2007-10-17Floor

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 377 - 38 (Roll no. 980).

2007-10-17Passed House

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 377 - 38 (Roll no. 980).

2007-10-17Floor

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 198 - 222 (Roll no. 979).

2007-10-17Floor

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H11695)

2007-10-17Reported

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Sali motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with amendments that strike "Federal Railroad Safety Administration" each place it appears and insert "Federal Railroad Administration"; and insert a new section regarding funding limitation.

2007-10-17Floor

Mr. Sali moved to recommit with instructions to Transportation. (consideration: CR H11694-11695; text: CR H11694)

2007-10-17Floor

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

2007-10-17Floor

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H11694)

2007-10-17Floor

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2095.

2007-10-17Floor

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 724, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rohrabacher amendment.

2007-10-17Floor

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 724, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pallone amendment.

2007-10-17Floor

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 724, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Napolitano amendment.

2007-10-17Floor

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 724, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Oberstar amendment.

2007-10-17Floor

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2095.

2007-10-17Floor

The Speaker designated the Honorable Earl Pomeroy to act as Chairman of the Committee.

2007-10-17Floor

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 724 and Rule XVIII.

2007-10-17Floor

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2095 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against the consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now printed in the bill.

2007-10-17Reported

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 724. (consideration: CR H11671-11696; text of measure as reported in House: CR H11677-11687)

2007-10-17Passed House

Rule H. Res. 724 passed House.

2007-10-18Referred to Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

2008-08-01Floor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

2008-08-01Passed Senate

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

2008-08-01Passed Senate

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

2008-08-01Floor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8003)

2008-08-01Discharge

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

2008-09-24Floor

House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment pursuant to H.Res. 1492.

2008-09-25Floor

Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment.

2008-09-27Floor

Motion to concur in House amendment to Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 5677) made in Senate. (consideration: CR S10019)

2008-09-27Floor

Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to Senate amendment presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S10019; text: CR S10019)

2008-09-27Floor

Motion to concur in House amendment to Senate amendment made in Senate.

2008-09-27Floor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10019-10020)

2008-09-29Floor

Cloture on the motion to concur in House amendment to Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 5677) invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 69 - 17. Record Vote Number: 209. (consideration: CR S10037; text: CR S10037)

2008-09-29Floor

Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10031-10037, S10039-10041, S10041, S10049, S10051-10052)

2008-09-30Floor

Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10119-10126)

2008-10-01Legislative Action

Cleared for White House.

2008-10-01ResolvingDifferences

Senate agreed to motion to agree to House amendment to Senate amendment to the measure by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 24. Record Vote Number: 210.

2008-10-01NotUsed

Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to motion to agree to House amendment to Senate amendment to the measure by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 24. Record Vote Number: 210.

2008-10-01Floor

Motion to concur in House amendment to Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 5677) withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10290)

2008-10-01Floor

Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10283-10290)

2008-10-02Floor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

2008-10-06Sent to President

Presented to President.

2008-10-16Signed into Law

Became Public Law No: 110-432.

2008-10-16Signed by President

Signed by President.

Related Votes

Coming Soon

Roll call votes connected to this bill will appear here once bill-to-vote matching is enabled.

Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 110-432.

Official Summary

Official summary has not been imported yet.

GovScope Watchdog™

AI Government Intelligence™

Executive Summary

The Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, enacted as Public Law No: 110-432, is a federal law aimed at improving safety standards and regulatory oversight within the railroad industry. Although the official summary and full text are not provided, the law likely includes provisions to enhance safety protocols, inspection procedures, and enforcement mechanisms to reduce accidents and improve the overall safety of rail transportation in the United States.

Bottom Line

This law establishes enhanced safety measures and regulatory oversight for the railroad industry to promote safer rail operations nationwide.

Policy Risk Level

🟡 Medium

Neutral Risk Assessment

Key Points

The bill was passed by the House and signed into law on October 16, 2008.
It falls under the policy area of Transportation and Public Works, focusing on railroad safety.
The law likely includes provisions to strengthen safety standards and enforcement related to railroads.

Who Benefits?

['Railroad companies and their employees through clearer safety standards and potentially safer working conditions.', 'Passengers and freight customers benefiting from improved rail safety.', 'Federal agencies responsible for railroad safety oversight, such as the Federal Railroad Administration.']

Potential Concerns

['Implementation challenges related to enforcing new safety standards across diverse railroad operators.', 'Potential increased costs for rail companies to comply with enhanced safety requirements.', 'Oversight responsibilities and resource allocation for federal agencies to effectively monitor compliance.']

Political Context

The bill was introduced and passed during the 110th Congress and was signed into law in 2008, reflecting legislative efforts at that time to address railroad safety concerns. The absence of a detailed summary or full text limits deeper analysis of its specific legislative context.

Hidden Impact Review

Hidden impact flags detected: 2

GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.

2 Detected

Detected Flags

Indirect Effects

['Potential improvement in public confidence in rail transportation safety.', 'Possible shifts in railroad operational practices to meet new safety standards.', 'Increased federal oversight could lead to more frequent inspections and reporting requirements.']

GovScope Watchdog Notes

The absence of an official summary and full bill text limits detailed transparency analysis. Monitoring the implementation and enforcement of the law will be important to assess its effectiveness and any unforeseen impacts on railroad operators and federal agencies.

Passage Likelihood: HighConfidence: 75%Model: gpt-4.1-mini

GovScope Intelligence Roadmap

Future bill intelligence will connect sponsors, committee referrals, related votes, campaign finance, disclosures, and stock trades into one legislative intelligence view.

Enterprise Ready