Legislation would increase NTSB funding for rail investigators

U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) on June 12 introduced a bill that would increase federal funding to enable the National Transportation Safety Board to add 15 railroad, pipeline and hazardous materials investigators.

The proposed Rail Inspector Safety Act calls for the authorization of $3 million in appropriated funding for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. The funding would remain available until it is spent, according to the bill text.

Separately, Van Orden introduced the legislation as an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2023, which this week passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Van Orden serves on the committee.

The legislation would provide "sorely needed relief to the NTSB's investigation backlog, as well as help deliver more timely and thorough accident reports to Congress," stated a press release issued by Van Orden’s office.