This Act may be cited as the Freights First Act.

Section 24308(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking Except in an emergency and inserting the following: (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2) or in an emergency; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Limitation of preference Intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation provided by or for Amtrak shall not have preference over freight transportation in using a rail line, junction, or crossing if such rail line, junction, or crossing is located within 50 miles of a port or rail yard..