Protecting American Railroad Workers’ Jobs Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8468 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8468

To protect the jobs of American railroad workers in cross-border traffic with Mexico, and for other purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 23, 2026

Mr. Pappas (for himself and Mr. Gooden) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

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A BILL

To protect the jobs of American railroad workers in cross-border traffic with Mexico, and for other purposes.

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 ``Protecting American Railroad Workers' Jobs Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. TRAIN CREW REQUIREMENTS.

(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 20172. Border crossings and train crew requirements ``(a) Border Crossings.--The Secretary of Transportation shall require-- ``(1) any railroad carrier that is operating a freight train across the southern border into the United States to stop such train at the southern border to conduct a crew interchange and any federally mandated safety testing; and ``(2) the railroad carrier to ensure that the only individuals who operate such trains after carrying out the activities described in paragraph (1) are individuals-- ``(A) who are-- ``(i) nationals of the United States; or ``(ii) aliens residing in the United States and lawfully authorized to engage in employment in the United States; and ``(B) whose primary reporting point is in the United States and who perform no duties for a railroad carrier while physically outside of the United States. ``(b) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Alien; national of the united states.--The terms `alien' and `national of the United States' have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101). ``(2) Southern border.--The term `southern border' means the international border between the United States and Mexico.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``20172. Border crossings and train crew requirements.''. <all>