I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 674 

To require Amtrak to propose a pet policy that allows passengers to transport 

domesticated cats and dogs on certain Amtrak trains, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 3, 2015 

Mr. DENHAM (for himself, Ms. NORTON, Mr. FARENTHOLD, Mr. NADLER, 

Mr. AMODEI, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New 

York, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California, Mr. 

CA ́RDENAS, Mr. VALADAO, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. YOUNG of 

Alaska, Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr. COHEN, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. HONDA, and Mr. RODNEY

DAVIS of Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To require Amtrak to propose a pet policy that allows passengers to transport domesticated cats and dogs on certain Amtrak trains, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pets on Trains Act 

5 of 2015’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. AMTRAK POLICY FOR PASSENGERS TRANSPORTING 

2 DOMESTICATED CATS AND DOGS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

4 date of the enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall propose 

5 a pet policy that allows passengers to transport domes6 ticated cats or dogs on certain trains operated by Amtrak. 

7 (b) PET POLICY.—In the proposal required under 

8 subsection (a), Amtrak shall— 

9 (1) designate, where feasible, at least one car of 

10 each passenger train that is comprised of more than 

11 one car in which a ticketed passenger may transport 

12 a domesticated cat or dog in the same manner as 

13 carry-on baggage if— 

14 (A) the cat or dog is contained in a pet 

15 kennel; 

16 (B) the pet kennel can be stowed in ac17 cordance with Amtrak size requirements for 

18 carriage of carry-on baggage; 

19 (C) the passenger is ticketed for traveling 

20 a distance less than 750 miles; and 

21 (D) the passenger pays a fee described in 

22 subsection (c); and 

23 (2) allow ticketed passengers to transport do24 mesticated cats or dogs in the same manner as cargo 

25 if— 


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1 (A) the cat or dog is contained in a pet 

2 kennel; 

3 (B) the pet kennel can be stowed in ac4 cordance with Amtrak requirements for cargo 

5 stowage; 

6 (C) the passenger is ticketed for traveling 

7 a distance less than 750 miles; 

8 (D) the cargo area is temperature con9 trolled in a manner protective of dog and cat 

10 health; and 

11 (E) the passenger pays a fee described in 

12 subsection (c). 

13 (c) FEE COLLECTION.—Under the pet policy de14 scribed in subsection (b), Amtrak shall collect a fee for 

15 each cat or dog transported by a ticketed passenger in 

16 an amount that, at a minimum, covers the costs of admin17 istration of the policy. 

18 (d) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 

19 (1) SERVICE ANIMALS.—The proposal required 

20 under subsection (a) shall be separate from and in 

21 addition to the policy governing Amtrak passengers 

22 traveling with service animals. Nothing in this sec23 tion may be interpreted to limit or waive the rights 

24 of passengers to transport service animals. 


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1 (2) ADDITIONAL TRAIN CARS.—Nothing in this 

2 section may be interpreted to require Amtrak to add 

3 additional train cars or modify existing train cars. 

Æ 


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