Crapo, Brown, Duckworth Introduce TRIP Act

Statement

U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), along with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), today introduced legislation to enhance rail transit safety. The Transit Rail Inspection Practices Act, or "TRIP" Act, ensures State safety programs are providing sufficient oversight of rail transit systems through inspections. The legislation stems from the Committee's ongoing oversight work and recommendations from a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study requested by Senator Duckworth.

"The Senate Banking Committee has a strong tradition of supporting bipartisan reforms that ensure the continued safety of the nation's public transportation riders," said Crapo. "The TRIP Act supports this objective by requiring states to perform right-sized, risk-based safety inspections and facilitating the information sharing between the states and the rail transit agencies within their jurisdiction."

"Inspections are an essential component of safety oversight. This bipartisan legislation is a smart step to improve safety for our country's public transit riders," said Brown. "I look forward to working with Chairman Crapo and Senator Duckworth to move the TRIP Act ahead."

"Ensuring the highest level of safety for passengers and workers aboard our nation's transit systems is common sense. Our bill will do just that by improving rail transit safety inspections," said Duckworth. "This effort builds on previous actions taken by Congress and recommendations made by GAO to enhance a state's ability to provide robust and thoughtful oversight of transit agencies nationwide."

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