I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2992 
To provide for the continued operation of Amtrak, to establish a program 
for support of certain rail infrastructure projects, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 20, 2005 
Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. NADLER, and Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsyl-
vania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee 
on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide for the continued operation of Amtrak, to estab-
lish a program for support of certain rail infrastructure 
projects, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘True Reinvestment for Amtrak Infrastructure in the 
21st Century Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—AMTRAK 
Sec. 101. Findings amendments. 
Sec. 102. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 103. Labor standards. 
Sec. 104. Board of Directors. 
Sec. 105. Redemption of common stock. 
Sec. 106. Repeal of Amtrak Reform Council. 
Sec. 107. Revolving credit. 
TITLE II—RAIL SERVICE CORRIDORS 
Sec. 201. Enhanced Rail Service Corridor Pilot Program. 
Sec. 202. Additional projects. 
Sec. 203. State rail plans. 
Sec. 204. Additional high-speed rail corridors. 
Sec. 205. High-speed rail corridor development. 
TITLE III—RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE CORPORATION 
Sec. 301. Establishment of Corporation. 
Sec. 302. Board of Directors. 
Sec. 303. Officers and employees. 
Sec. 304. Nonprofit and nonpolitical nature of the Corporation. 
Sec. 305. Purpose and activities of Corporation. 
Sec. 306. Report to Congress. 
Sec. 307. Administrative matters. 
Sec. 308. Rail Infrastructure Finance Trust. 
TITLE IV—RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE TAX CREDIT BONDS 
Sec. 401. Credit to holders of qualified rail infrastructure bonds. 
Sec. 402. Issuance of regulations. 
Sec. 403. Effective date. 
TITLE I—AMTRAK 
SEC. 101. FINDINGS AMENDMENTS. 
Section 24101(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (8) as para-
graph (10); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (7) the fol-
lowing new paragraphs:
‘‘(8) Where Amtrak currently owns the rights-of-way 
over which it operates, the cost complexities and risk in-
herent in separating operations from infrastructure out-
weigh the benefits. 
‘‘(9) The Federal Government, through Amtrak, is 
responsible for providing funding for capital and mainte-
nance support for the valuable interstate transportation 
asset that the Northeast Corridor represents.’’. 
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 24104 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 24104. Authorization of appropriations 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated 
to 
the 
Secretary 
of 
Transportation 
$2,000,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 
2011, for the benefit of Amtrak for capital expenditures 
under chapters 243, 247, and 249 of this title, operating 
expenses, and payments described in subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) MANDATORY PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Funds authorized under 
subsection (a) shall include— 
‘‘(A) an amount equal to the amount Am-
trak is required to pay under section 3221 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 
3221) that is more than the amount needed for
anticipated benefits for individuals who retire 
from Amtrak and for their beneficiaries; and 
‘‘(B) amounts necessary to pay— 
‘‘(i) obligations of Amtrak under sec-
tion 8(a) of the Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 358(a)) due in 
those fiscal years that are more than obli-
gations of Amtrak calculated on an experi-
ence-related basis; and 
‘‘(ii) obligations of Amtrak due under 
section 3321 of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 3321). 
‘‘(2) REQUEST
FOR
TRANSFER
OF
FUNDS.— 
The Secretary shall make payments to the Treasury 
of amounts authorized under paragraph (1) only 
after the Secretary has received from Amtrak a re-
quest for the transfer of such funds, which shall in-
clude materials supporting, to the satisfaction of the 
Secretary, the amount of the request. 
‘‘(c) CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.—From amounts 
appropriated pursuant to this section, the Secretary and 
the Amtrak Board of Directors shall ensure that sufficient 
funds are reserved to satisfy Amtrak’s contractual obliga-
tions for commuter and State-supported passenger rail 
service.
‘‘(d) ANNUAL BUSINESS PLAN AND SUPPLEMENTAL 
REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) BUSINESS
PLAN.—Not later than Sep-
tember 15 of each of 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 
and 2010, Amtrak shall transmit to the Secretary 
and the Congress a comprehensive business plan for 
the subsequent fiscal year, including, as applicable, 
targets for ridership, revenues, and capital and oper-
ating expenses. The plan shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) A separate accounting of such targets 
for each of the following: 
‘‘(i) Northeast Corridor. 
‘‘(ii) Commuter service. 
‘‘(iii) Long-distance Amtrak service. 
‘‘(iv) State-supported service. 
‘‘(v) Commercial activities (including 
contract operations and mail and express). 
The plan shall also include targets for each 
intercity train route, including Autotrain. 
‘‘(B) With respect to capital projects, a de-
scription of the work to be funded, a work time-
table, cost estimates, and a list of other funding 
sources if the project is not entirely funded by 
the Federal Government.
‘‘(2) SUPPLEMENTAL
REPORTS.—Not later 
than October 1, 2005, and once each alternate 
month thereafter, Amtrak shall transmit to the Sec-
retary and the Congress a supplemental report re-
garding the business plan transmitted under para-
graph (1), which shall describe the work completed 
to date, any changes to the business plan, and the 
reasons for such changes. 
‘‘(e) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS AND EARLY APPRO-
PRIATIONS.—(1) Amounts appropriated under this section 
remain available until expended. 
‘‘(2) Amounts for capital acquisitions and improve-
ments may be appropriated in a fiscal year before the fis-
cal year in which the amounts will be obligated. 
‘‘(f) LIMITATIONS ON USE.—Amounts appropriated 
under this section may not be used to subsidize operating 
losses of commuter rail passenger or rail freight transpor-
tation.’’. 
SEC. 103. LABOR STANDARDS. 
(a) CURRENT EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS.—Nothing 
in this Act, or in any amendment made by this Act, shall 
affect the level of protection provided to freight railroad 
employees, employees of the National Passenger Railroad 
Corporation, and mass transportation employees as it ex-
isted on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) LABOR STANDARDS.— 
(1) PREVAILING
WAGES.—The Secretary of 
Transportation— 
(A) shall ensure that laborers and mechan-
ics employed by contractors and subcontractors 
in construction work financed in whole or in 
part by funds authorized by this Act or by any 
amendment made by this Act will be paid wages 
not less than those prevailing on similar con-
struction in the locality, as determined by the 
Secretary of Labor under the Act of March 3, 
1931 (known as the Davis-Bacon Act; 40 
U.S.C. 276a et seq.); and 
(B) may make such funds available with 
respect to construction work only after being 
assured that required labor standards will be 
maintained on the construction work. 
(2) WAGE RATES.—Wage rates in a collective 
bargaining agreement negotiated under the Railway 
Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) are deemed for 
purposes of this subsection to comply with the Act 
of March 3, 1931 (known as the Davis-Bacon Act; 
40 U.S.C. 276a et seq.). 
(3) EMPLOYEE PROTECTION.—The Secretary of 
Transportation shall require as a condition of any
project financed in whole or in part by funds author-
ized by this Act that the project be conducted in a 
manner that provides a fair arrangement at least as 
protective of the interests of employees who are af-
fected by the project so funded as the terms imposed 
under arrangements reached under section 141 of 
the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997 
(49 U.S.C. 24706 note). 
SEC. 104. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 
Section 24302 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(A)(i)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(A)’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, 6 of whom shall be’’ 
after ‘‘7 voting members’’; 
(C) by inserting ‘‘or until their successors 
are appointed, and the President of Amtrak, ex 
officio’’ after ‘‘term of 5 years’’; and 
(D) by striking clause (ii); 
(2) in subsection (a)(2)(C)(iii), by striking ‘‘6 
of the 7’’ and inserting ‘‘5 of the 6’’; and 
(3) by amending subparagraph (D) of sub-
section (a)(2) to read as follows:
‘‘(D) The President of Amtrak may appoint 2 
additional nonvoting members who are not current 
employees of Amtrak.’’. 
SEC. 105. REDEMPTION OF COMMON STOCK. 
(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—Section 24311(a)(1) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of subparagraph 
(A); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (B) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(C) necessary to redeem its common stock out-
standing as of the date of enactment of this sub-
paragraph.’’. 
(b) EMPLOYEE
STOCK
OPTION
PLANS.—Section 
24304 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: ‘‘Amtrak may transfer to any 
such plan the stock redeemed from its common stock-
holders. Employees participating in such plans may elect 
one nonvoting member to Amtrak’s Board of Directors.’’. 
SEC. 106. REPEAL OF AMTRAK REFORM COUNCIL. 
Sections 203, 204, and 205 of the Amtrak Reform 
and Accountability Act of 1997 (42 U.S.C. 24101 note),
and the items relating thereto in the table of contents of 
that Act, are repealed. 
SEC. 107. REVOLVING CREDIT. 
Amtrak is authorized to issue and sell up to 
$250,000,000 of obligations in the form of revolving loans 
and letters of credit to the Federal Financing Bank. The 
Secretary of Transportation shall guarantee 100 percent 
of the principal and interest of such obligations. Such obli-
gations shall— 
(1) have a final maturity date no later than 10 
years after the date of commitment; 
(2) with respect to revolving loans, shall be re-
paid by Amtrak on an annual basis; and 
(3) with respect to letters of credit, shall be re-
paid on commercially reasonable terms that are ac-
ceptable to the Secretary of Transportation. 
TITLE II—RAIL SERVICE 
CORRIDORS 
SEC. 201. ENHANCED RAIL SERVICE CORRIDOR PILOT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish an Enhanced Rail Service Corridor 
Pilot Program to support rail infrastructure projects un-
dertaken by States or multi-State compacts, using funding
provided through the Rail Infrastructure Finance Cor-
poration under title III. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The program established under sub-
section (a) shall be for the purpose of improving rail serv-
ice along the rail corridors described in subsection (c), 
with respect to the following performance metrics: 
(1) Increasing the frequency of trains along a 
corridor. 
(2) Decreasing the travel time along a corridor. 
(3) Increasing overall ridership. 
(4) Increasing the overall amount of passenger- 
miles. 
(5) Increasing the ratio of operating revenue to 
operating expenses. 
(c) ELIGIBLE CORRIDORS.—Projects on the following 
4 corridors are eligible under the pilot program established 
under this section: 
(1) Southeast Corridor—From the District of 
Columbia to Jacksonville, Florida, via Richmond, 
Virginia, Raleigh, North Carolina, Columbia, South 
Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, with branches 
from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Atlanta, Georgia, 
via Charlotte, North Carolina, and Greenville, South 
Carolina, and from Charlotte, North Carolina, to
Charleston, South Carolina, via Columbia, South 
Carolina. 
(2) Midwest Corridor—From Chicago, Illinois, 
to Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois, to Min-
neapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, via Milwaukee, Wis-
consin, and Madison, Wisconsin; and Chicago, Illi-
nois, to Kansas City, Missouri, via St. Louis, Mis-
souri. 
(3) California Corridor—From the San Fran-
cisco Bay Area to San Diego via Santa Barbara and 
Los Angeles; from San Jose to Auburn via Oakland 
and Sacramento; and from Oakland to Bakersfield 
via Stockton. 
(4) Pacific Northwest Corridor—From Eugene, 
Oregon, to Vancouver, British Columbia, via Port-
land, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. 
(d) 
ELIGIBLE
PROJECTS.—Only 
the 
following 
projects are eligible under the pilot program established 
under this section: 
(1) Planning, including activities described in 
section 26101(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, 
and environmental impact studies. 
(2) New rail line development, including right 
of way and infrastructure acquisition and construc-
tion of track and facilities.