A bill to authorize and appropriate funding for grants to Amtrak for the restoration of long-distance routes and the rehiring of employees furloughed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bill: 117-s-369
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2021-02-23
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Appropriations

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Employee hiring

Executive agency funding and structure

Infectious and parasitic diseases

National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)

Railroads

Transportation employees

Unemployment
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-23
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill authorizes the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to use grant funds to restore the frequency of rail service on long-distance routes and rehire employees furloughed on or after October 1, 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 369 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 23, 2021 Mr. Tester introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To authorize and appropriate funding for grants to Amtrak for the restoration of long-distance routes and the rehiring of employees furloughed as a result of the COVID–19 pandemic.

1. Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for long-distance service restoration and employee recalls (a) Appropriations In addition to amounts otherwise made available, there are appropriated for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $165,926,000, which shall remain available until September 30, 2024, for grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (commonly known as Amtrak ). (b) Use of funds Grant funds appropriated under subsection (a) may be used by Amtrak— (1) to restore, not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the frequency of rail service on long-distance routes (as defined in section 24102 of title 49, United States Code) that Amtrak reduced the frequency of on or after July 1, 2020, and continue to operate such service at such frequency; and (2) to recall and manage employees furloughed on or after October 1, 2020, as a result of efforts to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the 2019 novel coronavirus disease pandemic.