A bill to amend title 49 to include certain requirements regarding visual track inspections, and for other purposes.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 3987 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3987 To amend title 49 to include certain requirements regarding visual track inspections, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 4, 2026 Ms. Baldwin (for herself and Mr. Hawley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 49 to include certain requirements regarding visual track inspections, 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 ``Secure Tracks Act''. SEC. 2. TRACK INSPECTIONS. (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. PROTECTING VISUAL TRACK INSPECTIONS AND INCORPORATING AUTOMATED TRACK INSPECTIONS. ``(a) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Class 1 track; class 2 track; class 3 track; class 4 track; class 5 track.--The terms `Class 1 track', `Class 2 track', `Class 3 track', `Class 4 track', and `Class 5 track' have the meanings given such terms in section 213.9(a) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2026). ``(2) Main line.--The term `Main line' has the meaning given such term in section 236.1003 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2026). ``(3) Qualified inspector.--The term `qualified inspector' means a person designated as a qualified person to inspect track for defects under section 213.7(b) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2026). ``(4) Track geometry measurement system.--The term `Track Geometry Mea