Deluzio, Rulli Introduce Bipartisan ‘Under Pressure Act’ to Study and Improve Rail Pressure Relief Devices

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Congressman Michael Rulli (R-OH-06) announced new, bipartisan rail safety legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Under Pressure Act of 2026 would study the performance of pressure relief devices on rail tank cars in a fiery derailment. Congressman Deluzio’s study bill was crafted with the National Transportation Safety Board, rail industry groups and multiple labor unions that represent rail workers. 

"The rail industry is a huge part of our economy that employs a lot of hardworking people to get goods where they need to go. Its tracks run through so many American communities—including in Western Pennsylvania,” said Congressman Deluzio. “We need better and more updated rules to keep communities and rail workers safe while the trains move freight across the country. I’m proud to introduce the Under Pressure Act, which would study the performance of pressure relief devices in fiery train derailments to prevent even larger tragedies.” 

“I’m proud to join Congressman Deluzio on this important legislation,” said Congressman Rulli. “As we approach the three-year anniversary of the East Palestine derailment, we owe it to our communities to address every vulnerability in our rail safety systems. The Under Pressure Act will further our understanding of why pressure relief devices fail during derailments and how we can prevent those failures from turning accidents into disasters.” 

Specifically, the bill would: 

• Require the FRA to submit a report to Congress on the rate and causes of rail tank car pressure relief device failures in derailments;
• Require this report to make recommendations to prevent such failures; and
• Require the report to include a status update on any recommendations issued by the NTSB on rail tank cars that have not been sufficiently answered. 

Congressmen Deluzio and Rulli represent the communities in Pennsylvania and Ohio that most directly were impacted by the 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment. Following the fiery derailment, the duo has worked together on the comprehensive rail safety legislation, the Railway Safety Act of 2025. The Congressmembers also held a joint rail safety roundtable with union rail workers and leaders from Beaver County and Eastern Ohio in July 2025. 

The full text of the bill, as introduced, is available here. 

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