# 49 U.S.C. § 20103: General authority

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20103

## Section

- **Citation:** 49 U.S.C. § 20103
- **Heading:** General authority
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** May 4, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 49—TRANSPORTATION > SUBTITLE V—RAIL PROGRAMS > PART A—SAFETY > CHAPTER 201—GENERAL > SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL

## Text

The Secretary of Transportation, as necessary, shall prescribe regulations and issue orders for every area of railroad safety supplementing laws and regulations in effect on October 16, 1970 . When prescribing a security regulation or issuing a security order that affects the safety of railroad operations, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consult with the Secretary.

( Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e) , July 5, 1994 , 108 Stat. 863 ; Pub. L. 103–440, title II, § 217 , Nov. 2, 1994 , 108 Stat. 4624 ; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1710(b) , Nov. 25, 2002 , 116 Stat. 2319 ; Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title III, § 308 , Oct. 16, 2008 , 122 Stat. 4881 ; Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title II, § 22411 , Nov. 15, 2021 , 135 Stat. 742 .)

## Nearby sections

- [49 U.S.C. § 20101 Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20101.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20102 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20102.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20103 General authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20103.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20104 Emergency authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20104.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20105 State participation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20105.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20106 Preemption](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20106.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20107 Inspection and investigation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20107.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20108 Research, development, testing, and training](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20108.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20109 Employee protections](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20109.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20110 Effect on employee qualifications and collective bargaining](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20110.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20111 Enforcement by the Secretary of Transportation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20111.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20112 Enforcement by the Attorney General](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20112.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20113 Enforcement by the States](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20113.md)
- [49 U.S.C. § 20114 Judicial procedures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20114.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t49_s20103. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.