HR 188 · 119th CongressIn Committee

Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act

Latest updateJun 6, 2025

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-144.

Transportation and Public Works

Sponsor

Troy Nehls

Introduced

January 3, 2025

Latest action

June 6, 2025

Legislative Progress

How far this bill has traveled through Congress

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 113.

Plain-Language Summary

AI Generated

Currently, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) is subject to the Freedom of Information Act under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, but is explicitly exempt from the Government in the Sunshine Act, which requires federal agencies and boards to hold open meetings. This means Amtrak's Board of Directors can conduct business behind closed doors without public notice, advance agendas, or meeting minutes—unlike most other federally funded entities. Amtrak receives substantial taxpayer funding annually, yet operates with less transparency than many private corporations and government agencies.

This bill amends section 24301(e) of title 49, United States Code, to require Amtrak's Board of Directors to comply with the open meetings requirements of section 552b of title 5. The change directs Amtrak to provide advance notice of meetings, open sessions to the public, maintain detailed minutes, and disclose voting records—the same obligations that apply to other federal agencies. However, the bill preserves narrow exemptions allowing Amtrak to close portions of meetings involving contract negotiations, collective bargaining discussions, personnel matters, and confidential commercial information, provided the company determines such disclosure would harm its competitive position or employee privacy.

Amtrak must implement these requirements immediately upon enactment. The bill does not provide new funding; compliance relies on existing Amtrak resources. In practice, the Board will need to restructure meeting procedures, establish public notice systems, and train staff on disclosure obligations. The change creates enforceable transparency without eliminating legitimate business confidentiality. Passengers, taxpayers, and Congress gain visibility into Board decisions affecting service routes, fares, and capital spending, while Amtrak retains protections for sensitive negotiations and personnel information comparable to those available to other federal entities.

Key Provisions

1Requires Amtrak's Board of Directors to comply with the open meetings requirements of the Government in the Sunshine Act, including advance public notice, open sessions, meeting minutes, and voting records.
2Permits Amtrak to close meetings or withhold information when disclosure would compromise contract negotiations, collective bargaining discussions, personnel matters, or confidential commercial information.
3Preserves Amtrak's ability to protect customer and employee safety information and to conduct normal business activities consistent with its statutory mission without public disclosure.
4Applies the same exemptions available under the Government in the Sunshine Act to Amtrak, ensuring parity with other federal agencies subject to open meetings requirements.

★ Why this matters

Amtrak's Board decisions on service routes, fares, capital investments, and operating budgets directly affect service quality and taxpayer spending, yet currently occur entirely behind closed doors. Requiring open meetings creates a public record of how the company spends federal funds and makes strategic choices, enabling informed oversight by Congress, passengers, and taxpayers. The change does not eliminate legitimate confidentiality for contract negotiations or personnel matters—it simply brings Amtrak into alignment with transparency standards that apply to other federally funded entities.

● Who this affects

Passengers who depend on Amtrak service and want visibility into route and fare decisions; taxpayers funding Amtrak's annual operating and capital subsidies; members of Congress overseeing the railroad's performance and budget; Amtrak employees and their representatives negotiating collective bargaining agreements; and Amtrak's Board of Directors, who must restructure meeting procedures to comply with public notice and disclosure requirements.

Bill Text

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<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 …

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448

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448

Jason Crow

D-Colorado · District 6

No position

The public record does not contain any explicit statements about the Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act. While Rep. Crow's website emphasizes 'Transparency' as a key issue and shows a pattern of accountability-focused legislation (particularly regarding national security and defense spending), there is insufficient specific information about his position on Amtrak policy or transportation infrastructure bills. His general support for transparency and fiscal accountability suggests he might be receptive to transparency/accountability measures, but without direct evidence regarding this specific bill, a neutral stance with low-to-moderate confidence is most appropriate.

Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act

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Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

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