Amtrak Transparency Act

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Latest Action

Jan 21, 2025

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries (1)

Introduced in Senate - Jan 21, 2025 00

Amtrak Transparency ActThis bill increases Amtrak's open meeting and public disclosure requirements.Specifically, the Amtrak Board of Directors must comply with federal open meeting requirements under the Government in the Sunshine Act.In addition, at least 30 days prior to the board convening, the board must publicly post an announcement of the meeting and the anticipated meeting agenda.The board must also annually convene a meeting to which state departments of transportation with long-distance routes or state-supported routes are invited to participate.Further, Amtrak must publicly disclose the discretionary bonus compensation paid to an Amtrak officer or non-bargaining unit employee.Upon request, Amtrak must also disclose to a state or the State-Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Committee vendor agreements of $250,000 or more for certain services on state-supported routes.

Actions (2)

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Type: IntroReferral | Source: Senate

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Type: IntroReferral | Source: Library of Congress | Code: 10000

Jan 21, 2025

Subjects (1)

Transportation and Public Works (Policy Area)

Text Versions (1)

Introduced in Senate

Jan 21, 2025

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Full Bill Text

Length: 2,756 characters Version: Introduced in Senate Version Date: Jan 21, 2025 Last Updated: Nov 15, 2025 2:31 AM

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 174 Introduced in Senate

(IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 174

To improve the transparency of Amtrak operations, and for other
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 21, 2025

Mrs. Fischer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To improve the transparency of Amtrak operations, 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.

This Act may be cited as the ``Amtrak Transparency Act''.

SEC. 2.

Section 24302 of title 49, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (a) (6) , by striking ``in an open meeting''; and (2) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows: `` (e) Meetings.

(1) in subsection

(a)

(6) , by striking ``in an open
meeting''; and

(2) by amending subsection

(e) to read as follows:
``

(e) Meetings.--
``

(1) Quorum.--A majority of the members serving on the
Board who are eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum for
doing business.
``

(2) Notice; open meetings.--
``
(A) Notice.--Not later than 30 days before
convening any meeting of the Board, the Board shall
post, on a publicly accessible website, an announcement
of the meeting that includes the anticipated agenda for
the meeting.
``
(B) Open meetings.--All meetings of the Board
shall comply with the requirements set forth in

section 552b of title 5.

``

(3) Annual meeting with states.--Not less frequently than
annually, the Board shall convene a meeting to which the head
of the Department of Transportation of each State traversed by
a long-distance route or State-supported route, or the designee
of such State official, shall be invited to participate.''.

SEC. 3.

Section 24303 (b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``The preceding sentence'' and inserting ``Amtrak shall publicly disclose the amount of each discretionary bonus paid to any officer or non-bargaining unit employee.

(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``The preceding sentence'' and inserting ``Amtrak shall
publicly disclose the amount of each discretionary bonus paid to any
officer or non-bargaining unit employee. The 2 preceding sentences''.

SEC. 4.

Section 24315 (h) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Upon request, Amtrak shall disclose to a State or the State-Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, any vendor agreement valued at not less than $250,000 for services procured to implement a service on a State-supported route.

(h) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following: ``Upon request, Amtrak shall disclose
to a State or the State-Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, any
vendor agreement valued at not less than $250,000 for services procured
to implement a service on a State-supported route.''.
<all>

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 174 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 174

 To improve the transparency of Amtrak operations, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 January 21, 2025

 Mrs. Fischer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
 referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To improve the transparency of Amtrak operations, 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 Act''.

SEC. 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS.

 

Section 24302 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a)

    (6) , by striking ``in an open 
 meeting''; and

    (2) by amending subsection

    (e) to read as follows:
 ``

    (e) Meetings.--
 ``

    (1) Quorum.--A majority of the members serving on the 
 Board who are eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum for 
 doing business.
 ``

    (2) Notice; open meetings.--
 ``
        (A) Notice.--Not later than 30 days before 
 convening any meeting of the Board, the Board shall 
 post, on a publicly accessible website, an announcement 
 of the meeting that includes the anticipated agenda for 
 the meeting.
 ``
        (B) Open meetings.--All meetings of the Board 
 shall comply with the requirements set forth in 

section 552b of title 5.
 ``

    (3) Annual meeting with states.--Not less frequently than 
 annually, the Board shall convene a meeting to which the head 
 of the Department of Transportation of each State traversed by 
 a long-distance route or State-supported route, or the designee 
 of such State official, shall be invited to participate.''.

SEC. 3. DISCRETIONARY BONUS DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT.

 

Section 24303

    (b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``The preceding sentence'' and inserting ``Amtrak shall 
publicly disclose the amount of each discretionary bonus paid to any 
officer or non-bargaining unit employee. The 2 preceding sentences''.

SEC. 4. DISCLOSURE OF VENDOR AGREEMENTS.

 

Section 24315

    (h) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: ``Upon request, Amtrak shall disclose 
to a State or the State-Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, any 
vendor agreement valued at not less than $250,000 for services procured 
to implement a service on a State-supported route.''.
 <all>

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119-s174