U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
SB5294: Keeping China Off the Rails Act of 2026
Status: In committee, August 6, 2026
A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to require all railroad freight cars operating on the United States general railroad system of transportation to meet certain manufacturing and content requirements, and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require all railroad freight cars operating on the United States general railroad system of transportation to meet certain manufacturing and content requirements, and for other purposes.
From the introduced text, August 6, 2026:
A BILL To amend title 49, United States Code, to require all railroad freight cars operating on the United States general railroad system of transportation to meet certain manufacturing and content requirements, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Keeping China Off the Rails Act of 2026 . SECTION 2. Amendments to requirements for railroad freight cars placed into service in the United States and transporting Department of Defense cargo Section 20171 of title 49, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)-- (A) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (12), as paragraphs (6) through (13), respectively; and (B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: (5) Department of Defense cargo The term Department of Defense cargo means the movement of goods by a rail carrier arranged for, by, or on behalf of any of the Armed Forces, as defined in section 101 of title 10. ; (2) in subsection (b)(1) by striking A railroad and inserting Except as required in subsection (d), a railroad ; (3) in subsection (c)(3)(B) by striking Association of American Railroad's Umler system and inserting Association of American Railroads' Umler system ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (d) Requirements for railroad freight cars transporting Department of Defense cargo For railroad freight cars transporting …
Sponsors
- Ernst, Joni (R) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- : Introduced in Senate
Subjects: Transportation and Public Works
Common questions
- What is SB5294?
- SB5294 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): Keeping China Off the Rails Act of 2026.
- What does SB5294 do?
- In its own words: To amend title 49, United States Code, to require all railroad freight cars operating on the United States general railroad system of transportation to meet certain manufacturing and content requirements, and for other purposes.
- What is the status of SB5294?
- In committee as of August 6, 2026. Latest action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (August 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5294?
- Ernst, Joni (R).
- Where is the official record for SB5294?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5294
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.