Pets on Trains Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1087
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2015-04-27
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Animal protection and human-animal relationships

Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises

Mammals

National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)

Railroads

User charges and fees
Latest action: action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-04-27
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Pets on Trains Act of 2015</b></p> <p> Directs the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to propose a pet policy that allows passengers to transport domesticated cats or dogs on certain Amtrak trains.</p> <p>Requires Amtrak to collect a fee for each cat or dog transported by a ticketed passenger to cover administrative costs.</p> <p>Declares that the proposed policy shall be separate from and in addition to the policy governing Amtrak passengers traveling with service animals.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1087 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 27, 2015 Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein , and Mr. Kirk ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 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. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pets on Trains Act of 2015 . 2. Amtrak policy for passengers transporting domesticated cats and dogs (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall propose a pet policy that allows passengers to transport domesticated cats or dogs on certain trains operated by Amtrak. (b) Pet policy In the proposal required under subsection (a), Amtrak shall— (1) designate, where feasible, at least one car of each passenger train that is comprised of more than one car in which a ticketed passenger may transport a domesticated cat or dog in the same manner as carry-on baggage if— (A) the cat or dog is contained in a pet kennel; (B) the pet kennel can be stowed in accordance with Amtrak size requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage; (C) the passenger is ticketed for traveling a distance less than 750 miles; and (D) the passenger pays a fee described in subsection (c); and (2) allow ticketed passengers to transport domesticated cats or dogs in the same manner as cargo if— (A) the cat or dog is contained in a pet kennel; (B) the pet kennel can be stowed in accordance with Amtrak requirements for cargo stowage; (C) the passenger is ticketed for traveling a distance less than 750 miles; (D) the cargo area is temperature controlled in a manner protective of dog and cat health; and (E) the passenger pays a fee described in subsection (c). (c) Fee collection Under the pet policy described in subsection (b), Amtrak shall collect a fee for each cat or dog transported by a ticketed passenger in an amount that, at a minimum, covers the costs of administration of the policy. (d) Limitation on statutory construction (1) Service animals The proposal required under subsection (a) shall be separate from and in addition to the policy governing Amtrak passengers traveling with service animals. Nothing in this section may be interpreted to limit or waive the rights of passengers to transport service animals. (2) Additional train cars Nothing in this section may be interpreted to require Amtrak to add additional train cars or modify existing train cars.