Rail Security

A bill designed to improve railroad safety (H.R. 2095) has been approved by a conference committee and must now be signed into law by the president. The new law (P.L. 110-432) reduces stress on workers by decreasing overall work hours and increasing the amount of time off between shifts.

Lawmakers explored the effectiveness of security aboard cruise ships during a hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security. Several witnesses discussed cases in which cruise ship passengers were sexually assaulted, robbed, or went missing at sea.