119th Congress · introduced in the House · Mar 19, 2026
HOWIE Act
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Mar 20, 2026): Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Transportation and Public Works
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Introduced in House (Mar 19, 2026)
Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act or the HOWIE Act
This bill directs the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to revise current railroad accident reporting requirements to include additional causes of damage. Specifically, FRA must require a railroad to report a train accident that results in damage if the railroad has a reasonable suspicion that an action carried out by the railroad caused the damage. An accident includes any incident that causes a fire, including a brush fire, alongside a railroad track.
No cosponsors.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsCoverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 24, 2026.
4 citations.
BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY · lobbying firm or registrant: BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$930,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Knowledge Strategies Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad H.R. 7405, Rail and Highway Transmission Planning Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad H.R. 8012, HOWIE Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad S. 3987, Secure Tracks Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad H.R. 928, Railway Safety Act of 2025, All…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: CSX CORPORATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$310,000
Spent on own lobbying
…s of 2025 - heavy trucks; HR 8870: BUILD America 250 Act-5-year Transportation Reauthorization Bill- underlying bill and amendments HR 7748: Railway Safety Act HR 8012: HOWIE Act Monitor HR 8748: Surface Transportation Research and Development Act Monitor HR 9036: American High-Speed Rail Act HR 9170: Transportation Appropria…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY · lobbying firm or registrant: BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 17, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$960,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Knowledge Strategies Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad H.R. 7405, Rail and Highway Transmission Planning Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad H.R. 8012, HOWIE Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad S. 3987, Secure Tracks Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad H.R. 928, Railway Safety Act of 2025, All…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY · lobbying firm or registrant: BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 16, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$940,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ng Knowledge Strategies Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad Draft of Rail and Highway Transmission Planning Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad H.R. 8012, HOWIE Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad S. 3987, Secure Tracks Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad H.R. 928, Railway Safety Act of 2025, All…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing