I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2066
To restructure and reform the laws relating to Amtrak, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 25, 1997
Mr. OBERSTAR (for himself and Mr. WISE) (both by request) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
A BILL
To restructure and reform the laws relating to Amtrak, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Amtrak Restructuring
Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) intercity rail passenger service is an essen-
tial component of a national intermodal passenger
transportation system, and the National Railroad
Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) must provide a
quality transportation product in the form of clean,
comfortable, and on-time service to achieve its full
potential;
(2) Amtrak has been forced to significantly cut
back its rail passenger system due to cash shortages,
and further cutbacks may be required unless Amtrak
is able to reduce its costs and increase its revenues;
(3) to ensure Amtrak’s long-term viability as a
provider of intercity rail passenger service, all of
Amtrak’s stakeholders must participate in efforts to
reduce Amtrak’s costs and increase its revenues;
(4) additional management flexibility is needed
to allow Amtrak to operate in a businesslike manner
in order to adjust quickly to meet demand and
changing customer needs;
(5) Amtrak’s management and employees are
dedicated to providing the high-quality service that
Amtrak’s customers deserve but additional capital
investment is needed to acquire the modern equip-
ment and efficient facilities that are essential to sat-
isfy the demand for superior intercity rail passenger
service;
(6) the establishment of a secure source of cap-
ital investment from the Federal Government
through the authorizations included in this Act and
additional capital funding from State governments
and innovative partnerships with the private sector
will enable Amtrak to provide the world class service
American rail passengers deserve and will help re-
duce operating costs in the long term;
(7) the availability of additional capital invest-
ment from the Federal Government can and should
be used as an incentive to encourage Amtrak to
achieve the operating and other efficiencies that are
essential to the long-term viability of intercity rail
passenger service;
(8) Amtrak’s management should be held ac-
countable to ensure that all capital investment by
the Federal Government and State governments is
used effectively to improve the quality of service and
the long-term financial health of Amtrak;
(9) Amtrak’s management and its employees
should use the collective bargaining process to reach
equitable agreements that provide a sound basis for
improved customer service and that contribute to the
long-term viability of the corporation;
(10) States, local governments, and private par-
ties can and should play an increasingly significant
role in supporting cost-efficient intercity rail pas-
senger transportation and in addressing local trans-
portation needs and air quality control;
(11) State and local governments should have
the flexibility to use the Federal transportation
funds available to them to support intercity rail pas-
senger service as an essential component of the
intermodal transportation network in their States;
(12) the Secretary of Transportation, as an ex
officio member of Amtrak’s Board of Directors,
should use this position to evaluate Amtrak’s costs
and revenue elements to ensure that Amtrak pro-
vides excellent service to its customers, that Amtrak
uses its Federal investment wisely and efficiently,
and that Amtrak makes significant and measurable
progress in improving the financial performance of
intercity rail passenger service; and
(13) Amtrak’s revenues, including assistance
provided by Amtrak’s State, local, and private sector
partners, should cover Amtrak’s operating expenses
by fiscal year 2002.
TITLE I—OPERATIONAL
REFORMS
SEC. 101. OPERATION OF INTERCITY RAIL PASSENGER
SERVICE.
Chapter 247 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) by amending section 24701 to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘§ 24701. Operation of intercity rail passenger service
‘‘(a) BY AMTRAK.—Amtrak is authorized to provide
cost-effective intercity rail passenger service on those
routes throughout the United States where it can serve
an important transportation function and it can, over the
long term, cover the full operating costs associated with
providing the service through fares and contributions from
State and local governments or other interested parties.
Amtrak’s decisions regarding the initiation, retention,
modification, or elimination of intercity rail passenger
service shall be made on the basis of available financial
resources and any agreement Amtrak enters into with a
State or local government or private entity to support rail
passenger service shall be made with the understanding
that the Federal operating subsidy will be eliminated after
fiscal year 2001.
‘‘(b) BY OTHERS WITH CONSENT OF AMTRAK.—A
person may provide intercity rail passenger transportation
over a route over which Amtrak provides scheduled inter-
city rail passenger transportation only with the consent
of Amtrak.’’;
(2) by amending section 24702 to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘§ 24702. Route and service changes
‘‘(a) ROUTE ADJUSTMENTS.—Amtrak shall adjust its
route structure as it deems appropriate applying sound
business and transportation principles.
‘‘(b) NOTICE OF SERVICE CHANGES.—Prior to imple-
menting a route discontinuance that would remove all
service on a route or cut service by more than half, Am-
trak shall provide its employees’ representatives, affected
States, cities, and other interested parties with advance
notice of at least ninety days in order to enable any of
the affected parties to provide financial support for the
route that would allow for continued operation. Amtrak
shall provide a written notification to the Governor or
chief executive officer of each affected State which pro-
vides information on the costs, revenues, and other appro-
priate considerations in providing the service.
‘‘(c) EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.—In an emergency,
Amtrak may implement a route discontinuance with less
than ninety days notice but shall in any event provide as
much notice as possible. An emergency shall exist when
Amtrak’s Board of Directors determines that funds avail-
able to Amtrak for the fiscal year are not sufficient to
meet estimated operating costs and significant harm to
Amtrak would result if immediate action is not taken to
reduce costs through route reductions and service elimi-
nations.’’; and
(3) by amending the items in the table of sec-
tions of such chapter that relate to sections 24701
and 24702 to read as follows:
‘‘24701. Operation of intercity rail passenger service.
‘‘24702. Route and service changes.’’.
SEC. 102. AMTRAK COMMUTER.
(a) REPEAL OF CHAPTER 245.—Chapter 245 of title
49, United States Code, and the item relating thereto in
the table of chapters of subtitle V of such title, are re-
pealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 24301(f) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(f) TAX EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN COMMUTER AU-
THORITIES.—A commuter authority that was eligible to
make a contract with Amtrak Commuter to provide com-
muter rail passenger transportation but which decided to
provide its own rail passenger transportation beginning
January 1, 1983, is exempt, effective October 1, 1981,
from paying a tax or fee to the same extent Amtrak is
exempt.’’.
(c) TRACKAGE RIGHTS.—The repeal of chapter 245
under subsection (a) of this section shall not affect any
trackage rights held by Amtrak or the Consolidated Rail
Corporation.
SEC. 103. ROUTE AND SERVICE CRITERIA.
Section 24703 of title 49, United States Code, and
the item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter
247 of such title, are repealed.
SEC. 104. TRANSPORTATION REQUESTED BY STATES, AU-
THORITIES, AND OTHER PERSONS.
(a) REPEAL.—Section 24704 of title 49, United
States Code, and the item relating thereto in the table of
sections of chapter 247 of such title, are repealed.
(b) STATE, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL COOPERATION.—
Section 24101(c)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ‘‘, separately or in combination,’’
after ‘‘and the private sector’’.
SEC. 105. ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING ROUTES.
Section 24705 of title 49, United States Code, and
the item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter
247 of such title, are repealed.
SEC. 106. DISCONTINUANCE.
Section 24706 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘a dis-
continuance under section 24704 or 24707(a) or (b)
of this title’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘dis-
continuing service over a route’’;
(2) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘section
24704 or 24707(a) or (b) of this title’’ and inserting
in lieu thereof ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; and
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘under section
24704 or 24707(a) or (b) of this title’’ and inserting
in lieu thereof ‘‘as authorized by applicable law’’.
SEC. 107. COST AND PERFORMANCE REVIEW.
Section 24707 of title 49, United States Code, and
the item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter
247 of such title, are repealed.
SEC. 108. SPECIAL COMMUTER TRANSPORTATION.
Section 24708 of title 49, United States Code, and
the item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter
247 of such title, are repealed.
TITLE II—FINANCIAL REFORMS
SEC. 201. EXEMPTION FROM TAXES.
Section 24301(l)(1) of title 49, United States Code,
is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘, and any passenger or other
customer of Amtrak or such subsidiary,’’ after ‘‘sub-
sidiary of Amtrak’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘or fee imposed’’ and all that
follows through ‘‘levied on it’’ and inserting in lieu
thereof ‘‘, fee, head charge, or other charge, imposed
or levied by a State, political subdivision, or local
taxing authority, directly or indirectly on Amtrak or
on travel in intercity rail passenger transportation or
on mail or express transportation provided by Am-
trak or a rail carrier subsidiary of Amtrak, or on the
carriage of persons, mail, or express, or on the sale
of any such transportation, or on the gross receipts
derived therefrom’’; and
(3) by amending the last sentence thereof to
read as follows: ‘‘In the case of a tax or fee that
Amtrak was required to pay as of September 10,
1982, Amtrak is not exempt from such tax or fee if
it was assessed before April 1, 1997.’’.
SEC. 202. OFFICERS’ PAY.
Section 24303(b) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ‘‘The preceding sentence shall cease
to be effective on the expiration of a fiscal year during
which no Federal operating subsidy is provided to Am-
trak.’’ after ‘‘with comparable responsibility.’’.
SEC. 203. INTERSTATE RAIL COMPACTS.
(a) AMENDMENT.—Part C of subtitle V of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding a new chapter
251 at the end thereof as follows:
‘‘CHAPTER 251—INTERSTATE RAIL COMPACTS
‘‘Sec.
‘‘25101. Interstate rail compacts.
‘‘§ 25101. Interstate rail compacts
‘‘(a) CONSENT TO COMPACTS.—Congress grants con-
sent to States with an interest in a specific form, route,
or corridor of intercity passenger rail service (including
high-speed rail service) to enter into interstate compacts
to promote the provision of the service, including—
‘‘(1) retaining an existing service or commenc-
ing a new service;
‘‘(2) assembling rights-of-way; and
‘‘(3) performing capital improvements, includ-
ing—
‘‘(A) the construction and rehabilitation of
maintenance facilities and intermodal passenger
facilities;
‘‘(B) the purchase of locomotives; and
‘‘(C) operational improvements, including
communications, signals, and other systems.
‘‘(b) FINANCING.—An interstate compact established
by States under subsection (a) of this section may provide
that, in order to carry out the compact, the States may—
‘‘(1) accept contributions from a unit of State
or local government or a person;
‘‘(2) use any Federal or State funds made
available for intercity passenger rail service (except
funds made available to Amtrak);
‘‘(3) on such terms and conditions as the States
consider advisable—
‘‘(A) borrow money on a short-term basis
and issue notes for the borrowing; and
‘‘(B) issue bonds; and
‘‘(4) obtain financing by other means permitted
under Federal and State law.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of chap-
ters of subtitle V of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 249
the following new item:
‘‘251. Interstate rail compacts .......................................................25101’’.
TITLE III—NORTHEAST
CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS
SEC. 
301. 
BOSTON-NEW 
HAVEN 
ELECTRIFICATION
PROJECT.
Section 24902(a)(1)(A) of title 49, United States
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and 40 minutes’’.
SEC. 302. PROGRAM MASTER PLAN FOR BOSTON-NEW YORK
MAIN LINE.
Section 24903 of title 49, United States Code, and
the item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter
249 of such title, are repealed.
SEC. 303. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PRO-
GRAM.
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 24909 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘§ 24909. Northeast Corridor improvements
‘‘(a) CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.—Amtrak shall make
capital improvements for the Northeast Corridor improve-
ment program under this title as necessary to operate reli-
able, high-speed rail passenger service, to enhance capac-
ity for intercity and commuter passenger service, and as
otherwise may be necessary to ensure continued reliable
high-speed service. Amtrak shall acquire train equipment
to be used on the Northeast Corridor, mitigate environ-
mental impacts related to the Northeast Corridor improve-
ment project, and provide adequate parking at, and im-
prove Northeast Corridor rail stations.
‘‘(b) RHODE ISLAND THIRD TRACK.—(1) There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to make
grants to the State of Rhode Island, $10,000,000 for each
of the fiscal years ending September 30, 1998, September
30, 1999, and September 30, 2000, and $12,000,000 for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, to be used to
design and construct a third track on the Northeast Cor-
ridor between Davisville and Central Falls, Rhode Island.
‘‘(2) The third track shall be designed and con-
structed with sufficient clearance to accommodate double-
stack freight cars.
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall provide funds to the State
of Rhode Island to design and construct the third track
only to the extent that such funds will be matched by the
State of Rhode Island or its designee on a dollar-for-dollar
basis.
‘‘(c) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts appro-
priated under this section shall remain available until ex-
pended.
‘‘(d) PREVAILING WAGE STANDARDS.—(1) The Sec-
retary of Transportation or Amtrak shall ensure that la-
borers and mechanics, employed by contractors and sub-
contractors in construction work that is financed to any
extent with Federal funds under this section, are paid
wages not less than those prevailing on similar construc-
tion 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—276a–5). The Sec-
retary of Transportation or Amtrak may approve a grant,
loan, or contract only after being assured that required
labor standards will be maintained on the construction
work. For purposes of this subsection, the Secretary of
Labor has the same duties and powers stated in Reorga-
nization Plan No. 14 of 1950 (eff. May 24, 1950, 64 Stat.
1267) and section 2 of the Act of June 13, 1934 (40
U.S.C. 276c).
‘‘(2) Wage rates in a collective bargaining agreement
negotiated under the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151,
et seq.) are deemed to comply with the Act of March 3,
1931 (known as the Davis-Bacon Act; 40 U.S.C. 276a—
276a–5) and paragraph (1) of this subsection.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions of chapter 249, United States Code, is amended by
amending the item relating to section 24909 to read as
follows:
‘‘24909. Northeast Corridor improvements.’’.
SEC. 304. COMMUTER COST SHARING ON THE NORTHEAST
CORRIDOR.
(a) DETERMINATION
OF COMPENSATION.—Section
24904 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking subsection (b);
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (b);
(3) in subsection (b), as so redesignated by
paragraph (2) of this subsection—
(A) by striking ‘‘TRANSPORTATION OVER
CERTAIN RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND FACILITIES’’ in
the subsection head and inserting in lieu thereof
‘‘FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION’’;
(B) by inserting ‘‘relating to rail freight
transportation’’ after ‘‘subsection (a)(6) of this
section’’ in paragraph (1); and
(C) by inserting ‘‘to an agreement de-
scribed in paragraph (1)’’ after ‘‘If the parties’’
in paragraph (2); and
(4) by inserting after subsection (b), as so re-
designated by paragraph (2) of this subsection, the
following new subsection:
‘‘(c) BINDING ARBITRATION FOR COMMUTER DIS-
PUTES.—(1) If the parties to an agreement described in
subsection (a)(6) relating to commuter rail passenger
transportation cannot agree to the terms of such agree-
ment, the parties shall submit the issues in dispute to
binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbi-
tration Association.
‘‘(2) The parties to a dispute described in paragraph
(1) may agree to use the Surface Transportation Board
to arbitrate such dispute and, if asked to arbitrate the
Surface Transportation Board shall perform such func-
tion.’’.
(b) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR COST DISPUTE.—Section
1163 of the Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981 (45 U.S.C.
1111) is repealed.
TITLE IV—AUTHORIZATIONS
SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 24104 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘§ 24104. Authorization of appropriations
‘‘(a) OPERATING GRANTS.—There are authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation from
the Highway Trust Fund (other than from the Mass Tran-
sit Account), to make grants to Amtrak for operating ex-
penses, $344,000,000 for fiscal year 1998, $292,000,000
for fiscal year 1999, $242,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
$192,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, $142,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2002, and $142,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
Grants in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 shall not be made
to offset operating losses, other than for payments to the
railroad retirement and railroad unemployment systems.
Such payments in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 shall not
be considered a Federal operating subsidy for the purposes
of sections 24701, 24303(b), 24301(e), and 24305(b), and
section 512 of the Amtrak Restructuring Act of 1997.
‘‘(b) CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.—There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation
from the Highway Trust Fund (other than from the Mass
Transit Account) to make grants to Amtrak for capital
investments, including expenses related to debt service and
investments in the Northeast Corridor authorized by sec-
tion 24909(a) of this title, $445,450,000 for fiscal year
1998, and $423,450,000 for each of the fiscal years 1999,
2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
‘‘(c) SUPPLEMENTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.—(1)
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
of Transportation from the Highway Trust Fund (other
than from the Mass Transit Account) to make grants to
Amtrak for supplemental capital investments, including
expenses related to debt service and investments in the
Northeast Corridor authorized by section 24909(a) of this
title, $95,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, $168,000,000 for
fiscal year 2000, $240,000,000 for fiscal year 2001,
$313,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and $165,000,000 for
fiscal year 2003.
‘‘(2) The Secretary of Transportation may make
grants to Amtrak for supplemental capital investments
under this subsection—
‘‘(A) for fiscal year 1999 only if the Secretary
determines that Amtrak has taken specific and
measurable actions to reduce expenses and increase
revenues consistent with a plan to achieve the oper-
ating subsidy reductions identified in subsection (a)
of this section; and
‘‘(B) for fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and
2003 only if the Secretary determines, based upon
a report from Amtrak’s independent auditor, that
during the fiscal year which is two years before the
fiscal year in which the grant would be made Am-
trak’s revenues plus the amount of operating assist-
ance authorized for that year under subsection (a)
of this section equaled or exceeded Amtrak’s operat-
ing expenses for that year.
‘‘(3) The Secretary of Transportation shall provide
the appropriations committees of the Senate and the
House of Representatives, at the time of the submittal of
the President’s annual budget request, the current plan
to achieve Amtrak’s operating subsidy reductions and a
report on Amtrak’s progress in implementing that plan.
‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term
‘capital investments’ means expenditures that are com-
monly classified by freight or commuter railroads as cap-
ital improvements in accordance with the current findings
of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
‘‘(e) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, approval by the Secretary of Trans-
portation in fiscal year 1999 or thereafter of a grant or
contract with funds made available by subsection (a), (b),
or (c) of this section shall be deemed a contractual obliga-
tion of the United States.
‘‘(f) AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Amounts
appropriated under this section shall remain available
until expended.
‘‘(g) 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.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 24304(d)
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by deleting
‘‘24104(d)’’ and by substituting ‘‘24104’’.
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 501. WORLD CLASS SERVICE.
Section 24101(c) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by redesignating paragraphs (10) and (11) as
paragraphs (12) and (13), respectively, and by inserting
after paragraph (9) the following:
‘‘(10) manage capital investment in such a way
as to provide customers with world class service;
‘‘(11) treat all passengers with respect, cour-
tesy, and dignity;’’.
SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS.
Section 24102 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (11);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through
(8) as paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6), as so re-
designated by paragraph (2) of this section, the fol-
lowing new paragraph:
‘‘(7) ‘rail passenger transportation’ means the
interstate, intrastate, or international transportation
of passengers, mail and express by rail.’’;
(4) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated by
paragraph (2) of this section, by inserting ‘‘, includ-
ing a unit of State or local government,’’ after
‘‘means a person’’; and
(5) by redesignating paragraphs (9) and (10)
as paragraphs (8) and (9), respectively.
SEC. 503. STATUS AND APPLICABLE LAWS.
Section 24301(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code,
is amended by striking ‘‘rail carrier under section 10102’’
and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘railroad carrier under sec-
tion 20102(2) and a rail carrier under chapter 281’’.
SEC. 504. PRINCIPAL OFFICE.
Section 24301(b) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in the subsection head, by striking ‘‘AND
PLACE OF BUSINESS’’;
(2) by striking the first sentence;
(3) by striking ‘‘and place of business’’;
(4) by striking ‘‘of the District of Columbia’’
and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘of the State in which
its principal office is located’’; and
(5) by inserting ‘‘For purposes of this sub-
section, the term ‘State’ includes the District of Co-
lumbia. Notwithstanding section 3 of the District of
Columbia Business Corporation Act, Amtrak, if its
principal office is located in the District of Colum-
bia, shall be considered organized under the provi-
sions of such Act.’’ after ‘‘in a civil action.’’.
SEC. 505. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
Section 24301(e) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end thereof the following: ‘‘Sec-
tion 552 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply
to Amtrak in any fiscal year for which Amtrak receives
no Federal operating subsidy.’’.
SEC. 506. CONTRACTING PRACTICES.
Section 24305 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(b) BELOW-COST COMPETITION.—Amtrak shall not
submit any bid for the performance of services for an
amount less than the cost to Amtrak of performing such
services, with respect to any activity other than the provi-
sion of intercity rail passenger transportation. For pur-
poses of this subsection, the cost to Amtrak of performing
services shall be determined using generally accepted ac-
counting principles for contracting. This subsection shall
not apply for any fiscal year for which Amtrak receives
no Federal operating subsidy.’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(g) RAIL AND MOTOR CARRIER PASSENGER SERV-
ICE.—(1) Amtrak and motor carriers of passengers are
authorized—
‘‘(A) to combine or package their respective
services and facilities to the public as a means of in-
creasing revenues; and
‘‘(B) to coordinate schedules, routes, rates, res-
ervations, and ticketing to provide for enhanced
intermodal surface transportation.
‘‘(2) The authority granted by this subsection is sub-
ject to the review of the Surface Transportation Board,
and such authority may be modified or revoked by the
Surface Transportation Board if in the public interest.’’.
SEC. 507. ASSISTANCE FOR UPGRADING FACILITIES.
Section 24310 of title 49, United States Code, and
the item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter
243 of such title, are repealed.
SEC. 508. LABOR STANDARDS.
Section 24312(a) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by striking ‘‘, 24701(a) or 24704(b)(2)’’ and in-
serting in lieu thereof ‘‘or 24701(a)’’.
SEC. 509. RAIL SAFETY SYSTEM PROGRAM.
Section 24313 of title 49, United States Code, and
the item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter
243 of such title, are repealed.
SEC. 510. DEMONSTRATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY.
Section 24314 of title 49, United States Code, and
the item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter
243 of such title, are repealed.
SEC. 511. ACCESS TO RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS.
Section 24315 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1) by redesignating sub-
paragraphs (D), (E), (F), (G), and (H) as subpara-
graphs (E), (F), (G), (H) and (I), and by inserting
after subparagraph (C) the following:
‘‘(D) the long-term profit or loss;’’;
(2) in subsection (a) by amending paragraph
(2) to read as follows:
‘‘(2) provides an update that describes Am-
trak’s efforts and accomplishments in implementing
the Program Master Plans for the Northeast Cor-
ridor prepared by the Secretary of Transportation
and Amtrak and submitted to the Congress, includ-
ing a description of completed improvements, ongo-
ing projects and needed future investment, and a de-
scription of capital projects undertaken by other
Northeast Corridor users; and’’;
(3) in subsection (b) by redesignating para-
graph (2) as paragraph (3), and by inserting after
paragraph (1) the following:
‘‘(2) Amtrak shall include in the report required
under paragraph (1) projections of the anticipated bene-
fits of the capital projects Amtrak proposes to fund with
Federal funding and a description of the benefits actually
realized from all projects previously funded beginning with
funds provided in fiscal year 1997. The report shall in-
clude an identification of improvements in the quality of
service offered by Amtrak, facility improvements that
demonstrate a productivity gain, equipment improvements
that lower operating costs, environmental benefits (includ-
ing air quality and land use benefits), enhancements to
local transportation needs, enhancements to mobility of
physically and economically disadvantaged persons, any
improvement of the revenue-to-cost ratio, any reduced de-
pendence on Federal operating support, and reductions in
the need for alternative transportation investments. To
the extent practicable, the benefits addressed in each re-
port shall also be expressed as return on invested cap-
ital.’’;
(4) in subsection (e), by inserting ‘‘financial or’’
after ‘‘Comptroller General may conduct’’; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(h) ACCESS TO RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS.—A State
shall have access to Amtrak’s records, accounts, and other
necessary documents used to determine the amount of any
payment to Amtrak required of the State.’’.
SEC. 512. INSPECTOR GENERAL ACT OF 1978 AMENDMENT.
(a) AMENDMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 8G(a)(2) of the In-
spector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is
amended by striking ‘‘Amtrak,’’.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made
by paragraph (1) shall take effect on October 1 of
the first fiscal year after a fiscal year for which Am-
trak receives no Federal operating subsidy.
(b) AMTRAK NOT
A FEDERAL ENTITY.—Amtrak
shall not be considered a Federal entity for purposes of
the Inspector General Act of 1978. The preceding sen-
tence shall take effect on October 1 of the first fiscal year
after a fiscal year for which Amtrak receives no Federal
operating subsidy.
TITLE VI—HIGH-SPEED RAIL
SEC. 601. HIGH-SPEED RAIL TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS.
Section 26104 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e)
and by inserting after subsection (c) a new subsection as
follows:
‘‘(d) FISCAL YEARS 1998–2003.—There are author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary $19,595,000 for
each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2003, for carrying
out section 26102 (including payment of administrative
expenses related thereto).’’.
SEC. 602. HIGH-SPEED RAIL NOISE REGULATION.
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 201 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by adding a new section at the
end thereof as follows:
‘‘§ 20154. High-speed rail noise regulation
‘‘The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation
with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency, shall prescribe regulations addressing noise emis-
sions from high-speed rail systems, including magnetic
levitation systems, when operating at speeds greater than
150 miles per hour. Regulations issued under this section
shall be in lieu of railroad-related noise regulations issued
pursuant to section 17(a) of the Noise Control Act of 1972
(42 U.S.C. 4916(a)) only for operation at speeds greater
than 150 miles-per-hour.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new item:
‘‘20154. High-speed rail noise regulation.’’.
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