HR 8468
Protecting American Railroad Workers’ Jobs Act of 2026
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Bill overview
This bill aims to protect jobs of American railroad workers transporting freight across the southern border into the United States. It mandates that railroads operating trains across the border must conduct crew interchanges and safety testing at the border. Specifically, the bill requires that only U.S. citizens or lawfully authorized U.S. residents operate these trains while in the United States, preventing foreign workers from performing duties outside the country. This legislation focuses on ensuring that train crews meet U.S. employment requirements during cross-border operations.
Key provisions
- Requires railroads operating freight trains across the southern border to conduct crew interchanges and safety testing at the border.
- Limits train crew operations to U.S. citizens or lawfully authorized U.S. residents.
- Prohibits foreign workers from performing duties for a railroad carrier while physically outside the United States.
- Defines ‘southern border’ as the international border between the United States and Mexico.
- Adds a new section to Title 49 of the U.S. Code addressing border crossings and crew requirements.
Who is affected
- Railroad carriers
- Railroad workers
- U.S. citizens
- Lawfully authorized U.S. residents
- Mexico
Notable changes
- Establishes new requirements for crew interchange and safety testing at the southern border.
- Imposes restrictions on the nationality and residency of train crew members operating across the border.
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 8468
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To protect the jobs of American railroad workers in cross-border traffic with Mexico, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Protecting American Railroad Workers’ Jobs Act of 2026
.
Subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
The Secretary of Transportation shall require—
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
the railroad carrier to ensure that the only individuals who operate such trains after carrying out the activities described in paragraph (1) are individuals—
who are—
nationals of the United States; or
aliens residing in the United States and lawfully authorized to engage in employment in the United States; and
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.
In this section:
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).
The term southern border means the international border between the United States and Mexico.
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..