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1/19/2026
U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) last week introduced the Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act (S.3665), which would make it a federal crime to assault or intimidate passenger train employees.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. If approved, the legislation would make it illegal to intimidate engineers, conductors, onboard personnel, any personnel performing safety functions and train station employees, officials from Duckworth's office said in a press release.
The law would extend to attempts or conspiracies to interfere with workers. Violators would be subject to fines, imprisonment up to eight years, or both. If a dangerous weapon is used, violators could face prison sentences up to 20 years.
Duckworth and Hoeven unsuccessfully introduced a similar bill in 2018 after an Amtrak train conductor was injured in a shooting while on duty.
The bill is supported by rail labor groups, including the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers Union, Transportation Trades Department and the Transportation Communications Union.
"Our members have long sought the same protections afforded airline personnel: that assaulting or intimidating a crew member should and must be a federal offense," said Greg Kocialski, TCU national secretary treasurer and 30-year Amtrak veteran in a TCU press release. "We’re confident this legislation will force people to think twice before assaulting passenger rail employees."