Railroad Security and Public Awareness Act of 2004

H.R. 5217, the Railroad Security and Public Awareness Act of 2004, seeks to strengthen the safety of the nation’s rail systems by establishing standardized security training and public education programs. The bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to create guidelines for training front-line rail workers to recognize and respond to potential threats, while providing federal grants to help railroads and local governments cover the costs of these safety upgrades. Additionally, the legislation directs the government to launch a national public outreach campaign to teach passengers and employees specific actions they can take to improve security and report suspicious activity across intercity, heavy, and light rail networks.