Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Reintroduces Don’t Block Our Communities Act to Hold Railroads Accountable and Protect Public Safety

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT:
Joseph Guzman
202-355-8084
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Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Reintroduces Don't Block Our Communities Act to Hold Railroads Accountable and Protect Public Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29)reintroduced the Don't Block Our Communities (D-BLOC) Act, legislation aimed at addressing the chronic problem of blocked railroad crossings that disrupt daily life and endanger public safety in Houston neighborhoods and communities across the country.

For families in Houston, blocked crossings are a familiar and dangerous reality. Stalled trains routinely delay emergency vehicles, force parents and students to detour around crossings on their way to school, and trap residents in their own neighborhoods. Nearly 30 percent of rail-related deaths nationwide are linked to blocked crossings.

The urgency of the issue is especially clear in TX-29, as the reintroduction of the bill comes one year after the tragic death of Milby High School student Sergio Rodriguez, a loss that continues to weigh heavily on our community and highlights the need for more robust rail safety.

"No one should have to navigate stalled trains just to live their daily lives. When crossings are blocked, families are put in danger," said Congresswoman Garcia. "The D-BLOC Act is about accountability and making sure rail carriers respect the communities they operate in. This is about basic safety and quality of life for Houston families. Our neighborhoods deserve a rail system that works for people, not against them."

Although the Federal Railroad Administration established a national blocked crossing portal in 2019, later codified by Congress under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, federal regulators still lack clear enforcement authority. The D-BLOC Act responds directly to years of feedback from Houston residents calling for action.

The D-BLOC Act would:

• Prohibit rail carriers from blocking public crossings for more than 10 minutes
• Require the Federal Railroad Administration to investigate crossings with frequent blocked-crossing reports
• Authorize federal fines for railroads that repeatedly violate the time limit

See the bill text HERE.