(B) Federal operating subsidies for Amtrak
shall be assumed to decline over the 5-year period
beginning on the date of the enactment of a joint
resolution under section 4, possibly to the point of
zero Federal operating subsidy.
(C) The rail labor protection costs of Amtrak
shall be calculated both—
(i) at the level required under rail labor
laws as in effect when the Commission is identi-
fying routes under this subsection; and
(ii) at the level which would be required if
amendments to rail labor laws were enacted
that—
(I) limit to a maximum of 6 months
any wage continuation or severance benefit
for an employee of Amtrak whose employ-
ment is terminated as a result of a dis-
continuance of intercity rail passenger
service; and
(II) permit Amtrak to require any em-
ployee whose position is eliminated as a re-
sult of such a discontinuance to transfer to
another part of Amtrak’s system.
(2) The Commission shall specifically examine rider-
ship forecasts and other assumptions supporting contin-
ued service on the Northeast Corridor, particularly with
respect to the continuation of the electrification of the
Northeast Corridor between New Haven, Connecticut, and
Boston, Massachusetts.
(c) CONSIDERATION
OF QUALITY
OF LIFE FAC-
TORS.—(1) Each route identified under subsection (b) as
a candidate for closure or realignment shall be reviewed
to determine whether there are important social, environ-
mental, or other quality of life factors which should be
considered in determining whether to close or realign the
route. The commission shall also consider the effect on
airport congestion and the availability of alternative modes
of transportation, especially in rural areas, before rec-
ommending any closure or realignment.
(2) The Commission shall hold public hearings to ob-
tain testimony from State and local officials, and other
interested parties, with respect to factors described in
paragraph (1).
(d) 
OPTIONAL
USES
FOR
ABANDONED
RAIL
LINES.—The Commission shall also examine optional uses
for abandoned rail lines.
(e) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Commission shall,
within 120 days after the election or selection of its chair-
man under section 2(c), transmit to the Congress and the
President a report on its activities under this Act, includ-
ing recommendations developed under this section for the
closure and realignment of routes in Amtrak’s passenger
rail system.
SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF COMMISSION
RECOMMENDATIONS.
(a) TERMS OF THE RESOLUTION.—For purposes of
this section, the term ‘‘joint resolution’’ means only a joint
resolution which is introduced within the 10-day period
beginning on the date on which the Commission transmits
its recommendations to the Congress under section 3(e),
and—
(1) which does not have a preamble;
(2) the matter after the resolving clause of
which is as follows: ‘‘That Congress approves the
recommendations of the Total Realignment of Am-
trak Commission as submitted on lll’’, the
blank space being filled in with the appropriate date;
and
(3) the title of which is as follows: ‘‘Joint reso-
lution approving the recommendations of the Total
Realignment of Amtrak Commission.’’.
(b) REFERRAL.—A resolution described in subsection
(a) that is introduced in the House of Representatives
shall be referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. A resolu-
tion described in subsection (a) introduced in the Senate
shall be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate.
(c) DISCHARGE.—If the committee to which a resolu-
tion described in subsection (a) is referred has not re-
ported such resolution (or an identical resolution) by the
end of the 20-day period beginning on the date on which
the Commission transmits the report to the Congress
under section 3(e), such committee shall be, at the end
of such period, discharged from further consideration of
such resolution, and such resolution shall be placed on the
appropriate calendar of the House involved.
(d) CONSIDERATION.—(1) On or after the third day
after the date on which the committee to which such a
resolution is referred has reported, or has been discharged
(under subsection (c)) from further consideration of, such
a resolution, it is in order (even though a previous motion
to the same effect has been disagreed to) for any Member
of the respective House to move to proceed to the consider-
ation of the resolution. A Member may make the motion
only on the day after the calendar day on which the Mem-
ber announces to the House concerned the Member’s in-
tention to make the motion. All points of order against
the resolution (and against consideration of the resolution)
are waived. The motion is highly privileged in the House
of Representatives and is privileged in the Senate and is
not debatable. The motion is not subject to amendment,
or to a motion to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to
the consideration of other business. A motion to reconsider
the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed
to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the
consideration of the resolution is agreed to, the respective
House shall immediately proceed to consideration of the
joint resolution without intervening motion, order, or other
business, and the resolution shall remain the unfinished
business of the respective House until disposed of.
(2) Debate on the resolution, and on all debatable
motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be lim-
ited to not more than 2 hours, which shall be divided
equally between those favoring and those opposing the res-
olution. An amendment to the resolution is not in order.
A motion further to limit debate is in order and not debat-
able. A motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit
the resolution is not in order. A motion to reconsider the
vote by which the resolution is agreed to or disagreed to
is not in order.
(3) Immediately following the conclusion of the de-
bate on a resolution described in subsection (a) and a sin-
gle quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if re-