Anti-Amtrak Amendments Coming - Call Today!

Last week, NARP warned that the U.S. House is scheduled to vote on a number of anti-Amtrak amendments to the passenger rail authorization (H.R. 749). That vote takes place Tuesday, March 3—and we need your help to defeat these attacks on America’s trains!

The message is simple: ask your representative to vote “NO” on all amendments to H.R. 749.

By beating back anti-Amtrak amendments and ensuring clean passage of this bill, you’ll be sending a clear message to your elected official: Americans want a strong national train network, and we’re paying attention to what Congress is doing to get us there. What we do now may well determine how the Senate drafts their response to the House proposal. So call now!

Summary of Amendments Submitted to the Rules Committee for H.R. 749

Fitzpatrick (R-PA): Adds veteran-owned small businesses to the participation study required under Section 305.
Brownley (D-CA): Requires each state to develop a grade crossing action plan, identifying specific solutions for improving safety at crossings, including highway-rail grade crossing closures or grade separations; and focuses on crossings that have experienced recent grade crossing accidents or multiple accidents, or are at high risk for accidents.
Lowey (D-NY): Authorizes $10 million for a high-visibility grade crossing safety law enforcement campaign.
McNerney (D-CA): Ensures that socially and economically disadvantaged businesses request for proposals are considered for station development opportunities under Section 208 of the bill.
Gosar (R-AZ): Prohibits the use of federal funds to provide alcohol free of charge on a route operated by Amtrak.
Gosar (R-AZ): Prohibits the use of federal funds to provide food or beverages free of charge to Amtrak employees on the Auto Train or long-distance sleeper cars.
Gosar (R-AZ): Prohibits the use of federal funds to cover operating losses from food and beverage service after 1 year from enactment.
Gosar (R-AZ): Requires that the cost of labor for administering food and beverage service be included in the calculation of the total price of food and beverage service.
Gosar (R-AZ): Keeps consistent the funding authorization to the Northeast Corridor Improvement Fund and the National Network Account at FY 2016 levels through FY 2019.
Posey (R-FL): Places a $600 Million cap on loans made through the Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF) program.
Posey (R-FL): Ensures that Environmental Impact Studies are completed before passenger rail projects can sell private activity bonds. Also ensures that the issuer of private activity bonds for passenger rail projects assume primary responsibility for making safety improvements to road and waterway crossings.
Posey (R-FL): Require a resolution of support for the project from elected representatives in each affected county before funding can proceed.
Perlmutter (D-CO): Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit to Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) 2005 rule on the use of locomotive horns at rail crossings.
Mica (R-FL): Requires the Northeast Corridor Operation Commission to study express, one-stop service.
Lipinski (D-IL): Clarifies that passengers using or transporting non-motorized transportation are to be considered in the Amtrak Office of Inspector General's report on boarding procedures in Section 211.