Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8894 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8894

  To prosecute, as a Federal crime, the assault or intimidation of a
passenger train crew member in a manner consistent with the prosecution
         of assault or intimidation of an aircraft crew member.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 19, 2026

  Ms. Gillen (for herself and Mr. Van Drew) introduced the following
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To prosecute, as a Federal crime, the assault or intimidation of a
passenger train crew member in a manner consistent with the prosecution
         of assault or intimidation of an aircraft crew member.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Passenger Rail Crew Protection
Act''.

SEC. 2. INTERFERENCE WITH PASSENGER TRAIN CREW MEMBERS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 281 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 28104. Interference with passenger train crew members
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Crew member.--The term `crew member' means any of the
        following employees:
                    ``(A) An engineer.
                    ``(B) A conductor.
                    ``(C) Onboard personnel.
                    ``(D) An employee performing, or responsible for, a
                safety-sensitive function.
                    ``(E) An employee performing a function at a rail
                station in service of a passenger train, including with
                respect to ticketing, check-in, baggage claim, or
                boarding.
            ``(2) Dangerous weapon.--The term `dangerous weapon' has
        the meaning given such term in section 1992(d) of title 18.
            ``(3) Passenger train.--The term `passenger train' means a
        passenger train in intercity rail passenger transportation (as
        defined in section 24102) or commuter rail passenger
        transportation (as defined in section 24102).
            ``(4) Serious bodily injury.--The term `serious bodily
        injury' has the meaning given such term in section 1365(h) of
        title 18.
    ``(b) Offense.--It shall be unlawful for any person onboard a
passenger train in operation, on a platform serving a passenger train
in operation, or in a rail station that serves passenger trains--
            ``(1) to assault a crew member and thereby interfere with
        the performance of the duties of a crew member or lessen the
        ability of a crew member to perform those duties; or
            ``(2) to attempt or conspire to perform an act described in
        paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Penalties.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any
        person who violates subsection (b) shall be fined under title
        18, imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.
            ``(2) Aggravated penalties.--If a person violates
        subsection (b)--
                    ``(A) by striking, beating, or wounding, the
                maximum term of imprisonment under paragraph (1) shall
                be 1 year;
                    ``(B) with intent to commit any crime punishable by
                more than 1 year of imprisonment, except murder, the
                maximum term of imprisonment under paragraph (1) shall
                be 10 years;
                    ``(C) with a dangerous weapon or with intent to
                cause bodily harm, the maximum term of imprisonment
                under paragraph (1) shall be 10 years;
                    ``(D) and the violation results in serious bodily
                injury, the maximum term of imprisonment under
                paragraph (1) shall be 10 years; or
                    ``(E) with intent to commit murder, the maximum
                term of imprisonment under paragraph (1) shall be 20
                years.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 281 of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:

``Sec. 28104. Interference with passenger train crew members.''.
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