119-hr188

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 188 Reported in House

    (RH) ]

<DOC>

 Union Calendar No. 113
119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 188

 [Report No. 119-144]

 To require that the Amtrak Board of Directors comply with the open 
 meetings requirements of 

section 552b of title 5, United States Code, 
 and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 January 3, 2025

 Mr. Nehls (for himself and Mr. Graves) introduced the following bill; 
 which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
 Infrastructure

 June 6, 2025

 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
 House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
 in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 
 3, 2025]

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To require that the Amtrak Board of Directors comply with the open 
 meetings requirements of 

section 552b of title 5, United States Code, 
 and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Amtrak Transparency and 
Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act''.

SEC. 2. OPEN MEETINGS.

 

Section 24301

    (e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) by striking ``

Section 552 of title 5, this part'' and 
 inserting the following:
 ``

    (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph

    (3) , 
 

section 552 of title 5 and the open meetings requirements of 
 

section 552b of such title, this part'';

    (2) in the second sentence by striking ``

Section 552 of 
 title 5, United States Code, applies'' and inserting the 
 following:
 ``

    (2) Timing of application.--Except as provided in 
 paragraph

    (3) , sections 552 and 552b of title 5 apply''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (3) Scope of application.--
 ``
        (A) Information.--The requirements of the second 
 sentence of 

section 552b

    (b) of title 5 shall not apply 
 to any portion of an Amtrak meeting and subsections
            (d) and

    (e) of 

section 552b of title 5 shall not apply to 
 any information pertaining to any portion of an Amtrak 
 meeting otherwise required by 

section 552b of title 5 
 to be disclosed to the public in any case in which 
 Amtrak properly determines that such portion or 
 portions of the meeting or the disclosure of such 
 information is likely to involve--
 ``
            (i) contract negotiations, including 
 negotiations for procurements and agreements 
 that may result in a contract, the disclosure 
 of which would imperil or compromise the 
 competitive position of Amtrak;
 ``
            (ii) collective bargaining agreements or 
 any terms and conditions that are proposed for 
 inclusion in any collective bargaining 
 agreement, including the negotiation of terms 
 and conditions with employees or 
 representatives of employees of Amtrak;
 ``
            (iii) with respect to any individual who 
 is a prospective officer, employee, or 
 contractor or an officer, employee, or 
 contractor employed or appointed by Amtrak, 
 matters involving the employment, appointment, 
 termination of employment, terms and conditions 
 of employment, evaluation of the performance 
 of, promotion or disciplining of any such 
 individual, unless all such individuals whose 
 rights could be adversely affected request in 
 writing that the matter or matters be discussed 
 at a public meeting; or
 ``
            (iv) confidential commercial information.
 ``
        (B) Additional application.--In addition to the 
 information described in subparagraph
        (B) , the 
 information described in 

section 552b
            (c) shall apply to 
 Amtrak meetings.
 ``

    (4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
 shall be construed to--
 ``
        (A) require Amtrak to disclose information that 
 could put the safety of Amtrak customers or employees 
 at risk; or
 ``
        (B) prevent Amtrak from taking any action 
 otherwise necessary to--
 ``
            (i) comply with law;
 ``
            (ii) honor existing contracts or legally 
 binding agreements; or
 ``
            (iii) carry out normal business 
 activities consistent with the statutory 
 mission and goals of Amtrak.''.
 Union Calendar No. 113

119th CONGRESS

 1st Session

 H. R. 188

 [Report No. 119-144]

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To require that the Amtrak Board of Directors comply with the open 
 meetings requirements of 

section 552b of title 5, United States Code, 
 and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 June 6, 2025

 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
 House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed