The main purpose of this legislation, known as the Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act (the HOWIE Act), is to enhance safety and accountability in the railroad industry. It aims to ensure that rail carriers report any damage that may have been caused by their actions, particularly in cases where there is a reasonable suspicion that their operations contributed to the incident. Key provisions of the HOWIE Act require the Secretary of Transportation to create regulations that update existing rules about reporting train accidents.