Protecting American Railroad Workers’ Jobs Act of 2026

Chris Pappas

Democrat · NH · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Lance Gooden (R-TX-5)Original· 2026-04-23

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

2026-04-23

Source: Congress.gov

The legislation would establish rules to protect American railroad workers' jobs when trains cross the border between the United States and Mexico, likely by requiring certain staffing levels or preventing companies from replacing U.S. workers with cheaper labor from Mexico. This would affect railroad companies operating cross-border routes and their workers, as well as potentially impact shipping costs and trade between the two countries. The bill is currently under review by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

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

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