,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gcch ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #c1 #bjbf,mrs4 ,sykes introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 to codify the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,railroad ,safety and ,accountability ,act4 #b4 ,codification of the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee 7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,i of chapter #bja of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #bjabb4 ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,railroad ,administration shall maintain an advisory committee1 to be known as the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee1 for the purpose of providing advice and recommendations to the ,administrator regarding the development of railroad safety regulatory programs1 including the issuance of new regulations1 review and revision of existing regulations1 and identification of non-regulatory alternatives for improving railroad safety4 7b7 ,duties ,the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee shall have the following responsibilities3 7#a7 ,to provide a forum for collaborative rulemaking and regulatory program development with respect to railroad safety4 7#b7 ,to develop1 through collaborative processes involving all segments of the railroad community1 regulatory standards and mutually satisfactory solutions on railroad safety regulatory issues for recommended adoption by the ,administrator4 7#c7 ,to identify and assess the facts and data underlying any real or perceived railroad safety problems1 identify cost-effective solutions to such problems based upon agree-upon facts1 and identify1 if applicable1 regulatory changes necessary to guide and implement such solutions4 7#d7 ,any other responsibilities consistent with the purpose described in subsection 7a71 as determined by the ,administrator4 7c7 ,members ,the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee shall be comprised of not fewer than #a representative from each major stakeholder group of the ,federal ,railroad ,administration1 including freight and passenger railroad carriers1 ,amtrak1 organizations that represent local governments1 rail passenger organizations1 railroad labor organizations 7including organizations representing each of operating crafts1 maintenance of way employees1 shop and mechanical crafts1 clerks1 and dispatching employees71 safety-related railroad employees1 and railroad suppliers and manufacturers4 7d7 ,staff ,the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee may employ such staff as the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee determines necessary to carry out the purpose described in subsection 7a74 7e7 ,task-,based working groups 7#a7 ,tasks ,the ,administrator may request the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee establish a working group for the purpose of providing specific advice and recommendations regarding a task with respect to which the ,administrator is considering acting4 7#b7 ,working groups ,if the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee1 based on consideration and consensus of its members1 accepts a request under paragraph 7#a71 the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee shall-- 7,a7 establish a working group to develop consensus recommendations for action the ,administrator may take with respect to the task2 and 7,b7 ensure the working group is comprised of individuals that-- 7i7 possess the appropriate expertise to assess and develop such recommendations2 and 7ii7 are representative of the interests of stakeholders implicated by the task4 7f7 ,federal ,railroad ,administration required engagement ,the ,administrator shall meet quarterly with the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee to-- 7#a7 consult with the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee regarding the development of railroad safety regulatory programs of the ,federal ,railroad ,administration2 7#b7 advise the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee on emerging issues1 statutory requirements1 and other identified needs with respect to railroad safety2 and 7#c7 receive and discuss the views and recommendations of the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee in determining regulatory priorities of the ,federal ,railroad ,administration4 7g7 ,annual report to ,congress ,beginning in the first calendar year after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee shall submit to ,congress an annual report summarizing the activities of the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee for the period covered by the report4 7h7 ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act applicability 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 chapter #aj of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall apply to the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee4 7#b7 ,non-termination ,section #ajac of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall not apply to the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated out of the ,highway ,trust ,fund such funds as may be necessary to carry out this section4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the analysis for subchapter ,i of chapter #bja of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 by inserting after the item relating to section #bjaba the following new item3 #bjabb4 ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee4 4