Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2572
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2003-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Authorization
Capital budgets
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Transportation
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Government Operations and Politics
Government corporations
Infrastructure
Labor and Employment
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
Planning
Railroad commuting traffic
Railroad employees
Railroad engineering
Railroad finance
Railroad freight operations
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad retirement plans
Taxation
Unemployment insurance
Withholding tax

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: 
Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2003 - Amends Federal transportation law to authorize appropriations for Amtrak for FY 2004 through 2006 for: (1) capital expenditures; (2) certain mandatory payments; and (3) Amtrak's contractual obligations for commuter and State-supported passenger rail service.
 
Includes among mandatory Amtrak payments to the Treasury: (1) an amount equal to the tax Amtrak must pay as an employer under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act that is more than the amount needed for anticipated benefits for retirees and their beneficiaries; (2) amounts necessary to pay the contribution for employee unemployment benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act that are more than its obligations calculated on an experience-related basis; and (3) amounts necessary to pay railroad unemployment repayment taxes.
 
Requires Amtrak to transmit to the Secretary of Transportation annually a comprehensive business plan, including targets for ridership and for each intercity train route (including Autotrain), revenues, and capital and operating expenses, and supplemental reports describing the work completed to date, any changes to the business plan, and the reasons for such changes.
 
Prohibits the use of amounts appropriated under this Act to subsidize operating losses of commuter rail passenger or rail freight transportation.

action_date: 2003-09-17
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2003 - Amends Federal transportation law to authorize appropriations for Amtrak for FY 2004 through 2006 for: (1) capital expenditures; (2) certain mandatory payments; and (3) Amtrak's contractual obligations for commuter and State-supported passenger rail service.
 
Includes among mandatory Amtrak payments to the Treasury: (1) an amount equal to the tax Amtrak must pay as an employer under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act that is more than the amount needed for anticipated benefits for retirees and their beneficiaries; (2) amounts necessary to pay the contribution for employee unemployment benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act that are more than its obligations calculated on an experience-related basis; and (3) amounts necessary to pay railroad unemployment repayment taxes.
 
Requires Amtrak to transmit to the Secretary of Transportation annually a comprehensive business plan, including targets for ridership and for each intercity train route (including Autotrain), revenues, and capital and operating expenses, and supplemental reports describing the work completed to date, any changes to the business plan, and the reasons for such changes.
 
Prohibits the use of amounts appropriated under this Act to subsidize operating losses of commuter rail passenger or rail freight transportation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 160.
action_date: 2003-09-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 108-274.
action_date: 2003-09-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 108-274.
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Introduced in House