Moulton Re-Introduces American High Speed Rail Act, Calling for $41 Billion Annual Investment to Build America’s Rail Future

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) today re-introduced the American High Speed Rail Act of 2026, a landmark piece of legislation that represents a generational investment in America's infrastructure, economy, and future. The bill authorizes up to $41 billion annually over five years to build a world-class high-speed passenger rail system, putting the United States on par with nations in Europe and Asia that have long led the world in modern rail travel.

"America deserves the same world-class high-speed rail system that other countries across the globe have had now for decades," said Congressman Moulton. "This isn't just about improving convenience, it's about creating smart, business-driven investment that will create millions of good-paying jobs, connect communities big and small, fight climate change, and ensure America leads the way in the infrastructure of the future."

"This legislation marks a transformative step toward creating a more connected, sustainable, and prosperous future for all Americans," said Congresswoman DelBene, an original co-lead of the legislation. "By investing in a national high-speed rail network, we are not only alleviating strain on our highways and airports and creating safer communities, but we are also strengthening productivity and lowering carbon emissions. An expanded high-speed rail system would have an incredible value in the Pacific Northwest, connecting key population centers from Vancouver to Portland and beyond."

This legislation lays out a comprehensive foundation for America's rail resurgence. It standardizes definitions for high-speed rail (186+ mph) and higher-speed rail (110-186 mph), establishes robust public-private partnership frameworks to maximize federal investment, and targets grants to projects that deliver equity, resilience, sustainability, and economic development for the communities they serve.

The bill also expands transit-oriented development (TOD) incentives to grow affordable housing and spur commercial development around new rail hubs. It also takes meaningful steps to streamline project delivery by eliminating expenditure timelines, modernizing labor protections and directing the Department of Transportation to fast-track performance-based safety regulations for advanced technologies already proven in global markets.

The re-introduction comes on the heels of a significant legislative victory for Congressman Moulton last week, when the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved his amendment to include the Railway Safety Act in the surface transportation reauthorization package during the committee's markup. The amendment's adoption marks a major step forward in Congressman Moulton's long-standing effort to make American rail safer, more reliable, and ready for the future.

The Railway Safety Act strengthens federal oversight of the nation's rail network by expanding safety requirements for hazardous materials transport, increasing the frequency of safety inspections, and giving regulators stronger tools to hold railroad operators accountable. It also invests in workforce training and requires the adoption of proven safety technologies - closing critical gaps exposed by recent high-profile derailments. Together with the American High Speed Rail Act, it reflects Congressman Moulton's comprehensive vision for a rail network that is not only faster and more connected, but fundamentally safer for the communities it serves. Rail systems are only as strong as the safety standards that underpin them, and Congressman Moulton is committed to building out a modern high-speed rail network while reinforcing the safety of our world class freight rail system.

Key Provisions of the American High Speed Rail Act

• $41 Billion in Annual Funding: Authorizes up to $41 billion per year over five years for high-speed rail planning, construction, and new technologies.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Encourages private investment through grants and loan eligibility, including use of federal funds to support RRIF loan credit risk premiums, maximizing the impact of every federal dollar.
• Standardized Definitions: Establishes clear national standards for high-speed rail (186+ mph) and higher-speed rail (110-186 mph) to ensure projects meet community and corridor needs.
• Equity, Sustainability & Climate Focus: Prioritizes grants for projects that deliver equity, resilience, sustainability, economic development, and measurable climate benefits.
• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): Expands incentives to ensure new rail connections catalyze affordable housing and commercial growth in surrounding communities.
• Funding Flexibility: Increases flexibility for the timing and sources of the non-federal cost share, including private funding and TIFIA/RRIF loans.
• Streamlined Delivery: Eliminates expenditure timelines to increase funding stability and reduce project litigation.
• Freight Incentives: Encourages freight operators to make land on existing rights-of-way available through targeted federal tax exemptions and a clear liability framework.
• Modernized Labor Protections: Updates rail labor standards based on agreements negotiated directly between labor and the railroads.
• Technology & Safety: Directs DOT to expedite development of performance-based safety regulations for advanced technologies already proven in international markets.

The American High-Speed Rail Act, co-led along with Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01), has 48 original cosponsors in total, in addition to Congressman Moulton.

The legislation is cosponsored by: Reps. Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), André Carson (IN-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Danny Davis (IL-07), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Don Beyer (VA-08), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry "Hank" Johnson (GA-04), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), John Larson (CT-01), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Jim McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Analila Mejia (NJ-11), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Sean Casten (IL-06), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Adam Smith (WA-09), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Juan Vargas (CA-52), and Eugene Vindman (VA-07).

Full text of the bill can be found here.

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