H. R. 8417

Keeping China Off the Rails Act

Shown here: Introduced in House (2026-04-21)

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.

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Keeping China Off the Rails Act”.

2. Amendments to requirements for railroad freight cars placed into service in the United States

Section 20171 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1) by striking “A railroad freight car wholly manufactured on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of issuance of the regulations required under subsection (c)(1)” and inserting “A railroad freight car described in paragraph (3)”;

(B) in paragraph (2) by striking “described in paragraph (1)” in each place it occurs and insert “described in paragraph (3)”; and

(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(3) Railroad freight car described
For purposes of paragraph (1), a railroad freight car described in this paragraph is—
(A) for the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Keeping China Off the Rails Act, a railroad freight car produced during the 2-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment;
(B) for the 1-year period beginning 1 year after such date of enactment, a railroad freight car produced during the 5-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment;
(C) for the 1-year period beginning 2 years after such date of enactment, a railroad freight car produced during the 10-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment;
(D) for the 1-year period beginning 3 years after such date of enactment, a railroad freight car produced during the 15-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment; and
(E) on and after the date that is 4 years after such date of enactment, a railroad freight car.

(2) in subsection (c)(3)(B) by striking “Association of American Railroad’s Umler system” and inserting “Association of American Railroads’ Umler system”.

H. R. 8417

Keeping China Off the Rails Act

Shown here: Introduced in House (2026-04-21)

2. Amendments to requirements for railroad freight cars placed into service in the United States

Section 20171 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(B) in paragraph (2) by striking “described in paragraph (1)” in each place it occurs and insert “described in paragraph (3)”; and

(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(3) Railroad freight car described

For purposes of paragraph (1), a railroad freight car described in this paragraph is—

(A) for the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Keeping China Off the Rails Act, a railroad freight car produced during the 2-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment;

(B) for the 1-year period beginning 1 year after such date of enactment, a railroad freight car produced during the 5-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment;

(C) for the 1-year period beginning 2 years after such date of enactment, a railroad freight car produced during the 10-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment;

(D) for the 1-year period beginning 3 years after such date of enactment, a railroad freight car produced during the 15-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment; and

(E) on and after the date that is 4 years after such date of enactment, a railroad freight car.

(2) in subsection (c)(3)(B) by striking “Association of American Railroad’s Umler system” and inserting “Association of American Railroads’ Umler system”.