Think Differently Transportation Act

Bill: 118-s-4107
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2024-04-11
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Disability and health-based discrimination

Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises

National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)

Railroads
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-23
text: Became Public Law No: 118-205.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-04-11
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Think Differently Transportation Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to include information on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in a required annual report to Congress.</p><p>Specifically, Amtrak must incorporate into the annual report an action plan for bringing Amtrak rail cars and stations into compliance with the ADA as required by a 2020 settlement agreement entered into between Amtrak and the Department of Justice. (Under the agreement, Amtrak committed to complying with the ADA and making intercity rail stations accessible.)</p><p>Amtrak must also include a status report on ADA compliance at Amtrak-served stations (based on a station assessment by Amtrak or the party responsible for ADA compliance). &nbsp;A station assessment means a review of all components of a station, including the building, platform, path to train, and parking areas, as required by the U.S. Access Board. For those Amtrak-served stations where Amtrak is not responsible for ADA compliance, Amtrak must include in the report information on the responsible party.</p><!--tinycomments|2.1|data:application/json;base64,eyJtY2UtY29udmVyc2F0aW9uXzE1MDY2ODc0MTAxNzE3NDQ1NDg0MjIzIjp7InVpZCI6Im1jZS1jb252ZXJzYXRpb25fMTUwNjY4NzQxMDE3MTc0NDU0ODQyMjMiLCJjb21tZW50cyI6W3sidWlkIjoibWNlLWNvbnZlcnNhdGlvbl8xNTA2Njg3NDEwMTcxNzQ0NTQ4NDIyMyIsImF1dGhvciI6Im5jaHVyY2hpbGxAbGliLmxvYy5nb3YiLCJhdXRob3JOYW1lIjoibmNodXJjaGlsbEBsaWIubG9jLmdvdiIsImNvbnRlbnQiOiJDb3BpZWQgZnJvbSBINjI0OHY1MyIsImNyZWF0ZWRBdCI6IjIwMjQtMDYtMDNUMjA6MTE6MjQuMjIzWiIsIm1vZGlmaWVkQXQiOiIyMDI0LTA2LTAzVDIwOjExOjI0LjIyM1oifV19fQ==-->

action_date: 2024-08-01
action_desc: Reported to Senate
text: <p><strong>Think Differently Transportation Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to include information on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in a required annual report to Congress.</p><p>Specifically, Amtrak must incorporate into the annual report an action plan for bringing Amtrak stations into compliance with the ADA as required by a 2020 settlement agreement entered into between Amtrak and the Department of Justice. (Under the agreement, Amtrak committed to complying with the ADA and making intercity rail stations accessible.)</p><p>Amtrak must also include a status report on ADA compliance at Amtrak-served stations (based on a station assessment by Amtrak or the party responsible for ADA compliance). For those Amtrak-served stations where Amtrak is not responsible for ADA compliance, Amtrak must include in the report information on the responsible party.&nbsp;Amtrak may meet these requirements by demonstrating that Amtrak took reasonable measures to obtain cooperation from responsible entities.</p><p>Further, Amtrak must annually submit&nbsp;the action plan and status report while the settlement agreement is in effect and&nbsp;every five years once the agreement&nbsp;is no longer in effect.</p><!--tinycomments|2.1|data:application/json;base64,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-->

action_date: 2024-12-03
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p><strong>Think Differently Transportation Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to include information on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in a required annual report to Congress.</p><p>Specifically, Amtrak must incorporate into the annual report an action plan for bringing Amtrak stations into compliance with the ADA as required by a 2020 settlement agreement entered into between Amtrak and the Department of Justice. (Under the agreement, Amtrak committed to complying with the ADA and making intercity rail stations accessible.)</p><p>Amtrak must also include a status report on ADA compliance at Amtrak-served stations (based on a station assessment by Amtrak or the party responsible for ADA compliance). For those Amtrak-served stations where Amtrak is not responsible for ADA compliance, Amtrak must include in the report information on the responsible party.&nbsp;Amtrak may meet these requirements by demonstrating that Amtrak took reasonable measures to obtain cooperation from responsible entities.</p><p>Further, Amtrak must annually submit&nbsp;the action plan and status report while the settlement agreement is in effect and&nbsp;every five years once the agreement&nbsp;is no longer in effect.</p>

action_date: 2024-12-23
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p><strong>Think Differently Transportation Act</strong></p><p>This act requires the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to include information on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in a required annual report to Congress.</p><p>Specifically, Amtrak must incorporate into the annual report an action plan for bringing Amtrak stations into compliance with the ADA as required by a 2020 settlement agreement entered into between Amtrak and the Department of Justice. (Under the agreement, Amtrak committed to complying with the ADA and making intercity rail stations accessible.)</p><p>Amtrak must also include a status report on ADA compliance at Amtrak-served stations (based on a station assessment by Amtrak or the party responsible for ADA compliance). For those Amtrak-served stations where Amtrak is not responsible for ADA compliance, Amtrak must include in the report information on the responsible party.&nbsp;Amtrak may meet these requirements by demonstrating that Amtrak took reasonable measures to obtain cooperation from responsible entities.</p><p>Further, Amtrak must annually submit&nbsp;the action plan and status report while the settlement agreement is in effect and&nbsp;every five years once the agreement&nbsp;is no longer in effect.</p>

tv_txt: One Hundred Eighteenth Congress of the United States of America 2d Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty four S. 4107 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To require Amtrak to report to Congress information on Amtrak compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with respect to trains and stations.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Think Differently Transportation Act . 2. Report on Amtrak ADA compliance Section 24315(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (D) shall include an action plan for bringing Amtrak-served stations that are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. ) into compliance with such Act, as required by the settlement agreement entered into in 2020 between Amtrak and the Department of Justice; (E) shall include a status report on— (i) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is solely responsible for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act, as required by the settlement agreement; (ii) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak has a shared responsibility for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak or by the party responsible for such compliance, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act for the portions of the station for which Amtrak is the responsible party consistent with the terms of the settlement agreement, identifying who is responsible for compliance (and the status of the compliance of each responsible party with such Act) for such portions and the timeline for compliance in cases in which Amtrak is not the responsible party; and (iii) the status of compliance with such Act for all Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is not the responsible party, nor is responsible for a portion of the station, and identify the entity or entities that have responsibility for compliance with such Act, based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak or the party responsible under such Act. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (3) Amtrak may meet the requirements described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (1)(E) by demonstrating that Amtrak took reasonable measures to obtain cooperation from responsible entities. (4) Amtrak shall submit the action plan and status report required under subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph (1)— (A) annually while the settlement agreement referred to in paragraph (1)(D) is in effect; and (B) every 5 years beginning on the first day the settlement is no longer in effect. .

Speaker of the House of Representatives Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate

tv_txt: 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4107 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To require Amtrak to report to Congress information on Amtrak compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with respect to trains and stations.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Think Differently Transportation Act . 2. Report on Amtrak ADA compliance Section 24315(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (D) shall include an action plan for bringing Amtrak-served stations that are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. ) into compliance with such Act, as required by the settlement agreement entered into in 2020 between Amtrak and the Department of Justice; (E) shall include a status report on— (i) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is solely responsible for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act, as required by the settlement agreement; (ii) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak has a shared responsibility for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak or by the party responsible for such compliance, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act for the portions of the station for which Amtrak is the responsible party consistent with the terms of the settlement agreement, identifying who is responsible for compliance (and the status of the compliance of each responsible party with such Act) for such portions and the timeline for compliance in cases in which Amtrak is not the responsible party; and (iii) the status of compliance with such Act for all Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is not the responsible party, nor is responsible for a portion of the station, and identify the entity or entities that have responsibility for compliance with such Act, based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak or the party responsible under such Act. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (3) Amtrak may meet the requirements described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (1)(E) by demonstrating that Amtrak took reasonable measures to obtain cooperation from responsible entities. (4) Amtrak shall submit the action plan and status report required under subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph (1)— (A) annually while the settlement agreement referred to in paragraph (1)(D) is in effect; and (B) every 5 years beginning on the first day the settlement is no longer in effect. .

Passed the Senate December 3, 2024. Secretary

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 485 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4107 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 11 (legislative day, April 10), 2024 Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mrs. Capito ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation August 1, 2024 Reported by Ms. Cantwell , with an amendment Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To require Amtrak to report to Congress information on Amtrak compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with respect to trains and stations.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Think Differently Transportation Act . 2. Report on Amtrak ADA compliance Section 24315(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (D) shall include an action plan for bringing Amtrak rail cars and Amtrak-served stations that are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. ) into compliance with such Act as required by the settlement agreement entered into in 2020 between Amtrak and the Department of Justice; and (E) shall include a status report on— (i) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is solely responsible for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act, as required by the settlement agreement; (ii) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak has a shared responsibility for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act for the portions of the station for which Amtrak is the responsible party consistent with the terms of the settlement agreement, identifying who is responsible for compliance (and the status of the compliance of each responsible party with such Act) for such portions and the timeline for compliance in cases in which Amtrak is not the responsible party; and (iii) the status of compliance with such Act for all Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is not the responsible party, nor is responsible for a portion of the station, and the entity or entities that have responsibility for compliance with such Act, based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak or the party responsible under such Act. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (3) In this subsection, the term station assessment means a review of all components of a station, including the building, platform, path to train, and parking areas, as required by the Access Board on the date of enactment of the Think Differently Transportation Act . .

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Think Differently Transportation Act . 2. Report on Amtrak ADA compliance Section 24315(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (D) shall include an action plan for bringing Amtrak-served stations that are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. ) into compliance with such Act, as required by the settlement agreement entered into in 2020 between Amtrak and the Department of Justice; (E) shall include a status report on— (i) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is solely responsible for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act, as required by the settlement agreement; (ii) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak has a shared responsibility for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak or by the party responsible for such compliance, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act for the portions of the station for which Amtrak is the responsible party consistent with the terms of the settlement agreement, identifying who is responsible for compliance (and the status of the compliance of each responsible party with such Act) for such portions and the timeline for compliance in cases in which Amtrak is not the responsible party; and (iii) the status of compliance with such Act for all Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is not the responsible party, nor is responsible for a portion of the station, and identify the entity or entities that have responsibility for compliance with such Act, based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak or the party responsible under such Act. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (3) Amtrak may meet the requirements described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (1)(E) by demonstrating that Amtrak took reasonable measures to obtain cooperation from responsible entities. (4) Amtrak shall submit the action plan and status report required under subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph (1)— (A) annually while the settlement agreement referred to in paragraph (1)(D) is in effect; and (B) every 5 years beginning on the first day the settlement is no longer in effect. .

August 1, 2024 Reported with an amendment

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4107 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 11 (legislative day, April 10), 2024 Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mrs. Capito ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To require Amtrak to report to Congress information on Amtrak compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with respect to trains and stations.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Think Differently Transportation Act . 2. Report on Amtrak ADA compliance Section 24315(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (D) shall include an action plan for bringing Amtrak rail cars and Amtrak-served stations that are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. ) into compliance with such Act as required by the settlement agreement entered into in 2020 between Amtrak and the Department of Justice; and (E) shall include a status report on— (i) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is solely responsible for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act, as required by the settlement agreement; (ii) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak has a shared responsibility for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act for the portions of the station for which Amtrak is the responsible party consistent with the terms of the settlement agreement, identifying who is responsible for compliance (and the status of the compliance of each responsible party with such Act) for such portions and the timeline for compliance in cases in which Amtrak is not the responsible party; and (iii) the status of compliance with such Act for all Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is not the responsible party, nor is responsible for a portion of the station, and the entity or entities that have responsibility for compliance with such Act, based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak or the party responsible under such Act. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (3) In this subsection, the term station assessment means a review of all components of a station, including the building, platform, path to train, and parking areas, as required by the Access Board on the date of enactment of the Think Differently Transportation Act . .