The Keeping China Off the Rails Act would require all railroad freight cars operating on the U.S. general railroad system to meet specific manufacturing and content requirements. The bill aims to restrict the use of railroad cars based on when and where they were produced, with a phased-in timeline that gradually expands over four years. During the first year after enactment, only freight cars produced within the prior two years would be allowed; this window expands to five years in year two, ten years in year three, and fifteen years in year four, after which all freight cars would need to comply with the requirements. The legislation essentially forces the railroad industry to phase out and replace older freight cars, though the bill text does not specify the exact manufacturing or content standards that must be met or provide specific funding for compliance. The bill was introduced in April 2026 and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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