GOP senators introduce ‘Transit Crime Reporting Act’ in wake of Iryna Zarutska’s murder
GOP Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) have introduced the Transit Crime Reporting Act of 2025 in response to growing concerns about safety on public transportation, highlighted by the recent murder of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte train. the proposed legislation aims to improve crime reporting and oversight related to public transit by requiring the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to enhance it’s reporting of violent and non-violent crimes to Congress.
The bill also calls for the creation of a 13-member task force led by the FTA administrator and composed of transit agency leaders, law enforcement representatives, transit employees, and national transit association members. This task force will develop policy recommendations and identify regulatory or legislative actions to increase safety on public transit systems nationwide. They are mandated to submit an interim report within one year and a final report within two years to Congress.
senators Scott and Tillis emphasize that the legislation seeks to ensure that all Americans can use public transportation without fear, improving openness and security to protect commuters and transit workers. The act also requires the Secretary of Transportation to provide annual crime reports to relevant Senate and House committees.
GOP senators introduce ‘Transit Crime Reporting Act’ in wake of Iryna Zarutska’s murder
Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced the Transit Crime Reporting Act of 2025 on Wednesday.
The proposed legislation is intended to help create and apply new strategies to protect public transportation commuters and transit workers, according to a release. It will also “strengthen oversight and reporting of crime on American public transportation.” The legislation also stipulates that a 13-member task force would be created to implement policy suggestions to increase safety on the country’s public transportation systems.
“The bill requires the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to enhance its reporting of violent and non-violent crimes to Congress and establishes a task force charged with recommending ways to mitigate violence on public transit,” read a release.
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The bill comes after Iryna Zarutska was stabbed and killed on a Charlotte train on Aug. 22.
“The tragic murder of Iryna Zarutska underscored many challenges facing Charlotte and the rest of the nation, including safety concerns on public transit,” said Tillis. “By improving how we track violence on public transit, this bill could help us take meaningful steps to ensure riders in Charlotte and across the country can utilize transit without fear.”
Scott echoed Tillis’s sentiments and added that the legislation would be vital to enhance security on public transit.
“Every American deserves to feel safe traveling to work, school, or anywhere else on public transit,” said Scott. “No one should ever fear for their life while trying to go to school or to and from work. This legislation takes meaningful steps to improve transparency and identify solutions so our communities can rely on safe, secure, and accessible transit.”
The task force will feature the Federal Transit Administration administrator as its head and include 12 other members: five representatives will be leaders of five different transit agencies, three will be representatives from law enforcement agencies, two will be transit employee representatives, and two will be from national transit associations. The task force would “ identify potential regulatory, deregulatory, or legislative actions by transit agencies that would enhance safety on public transportation.”
Additionally, the task force would be required to propose ideas for improving safety on public transit systems in the U.S. to Congress within two years of its creation. They would also have to submit an interim report to Congress after the “end of the first year.” Moreover, the bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to submit an annual report “detailing all crimes reported to the National Transit Database” to the Senate Banking Committee and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
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Scott is the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.
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