H.R. 3481House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act of 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 3:38 AM UTC

The Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act of 2021 changes federal railroad safety law to place the same work‑hour limits on yardmaster employees that already apply to train employees. It adds a clear definition of a yardmaster employee – someone who supervises and coordinates train and engine movements inside a rail yard – and updates the relevant code sections accordingly. The changes affect railroad companies and the yardmaster workers they employ.

Key Provisions

Amends the heading of Section 21103 to include “yardmaster employees” and inserts the term throughout the section so duty‑hour limits apply to them.
Adds a definition of “yardmaster employee” to Section 21101, describing the role as supervising and coordinating train control in a rail yard.
Updates the table of sections for Chapter 211 to reflect the new title “Limitations on duty hours of train employees and yardmaster employees.”

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee

May 26, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 25, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

May 25, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee

May 26, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 25, 2021

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3481

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 25, 2021

Mr. Carbajal introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for limitations on duty hours for yardmaster employees, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act of 2021.

Limitations on duty hours of yardmaster employees

(a)

Limitations on duty hours of yardmaster employees

Section 21103 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in the heading of such section, by inserting and yardmaster employees after train employees;

(2)

by inserting or yardmaster employee after train employee each place it appears; and

(3)

in subsection (e), by inserting or yardmaster after During a train.

(b)

Definitions

Section 21101 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (3) by inserting a yardmaster employee, after dispatching service employee,; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(6)

yardmaster employee means an individual responsible for supervising and coordinating the control of trains and engines operating within a rail yard.

(c)

Conforming amendment

The table of sections for chapter 211 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 21103 and inserting the following:

21103. Limitations on duty hours of train employees and yardmaster employees.