Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act

Bill: 119-hr-188
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]
Introduced: 2025-01-03
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Government information and archives

National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)

Railroads
Latest action: action_date: 2025-06-06
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 113.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act</strong></p><p>This bill directs Amtrak to comply with federal open meeting requirements under the Government in the Sunshine Act, with exceptions.</p><p>Under the bill, certain open meeting requirements do not apply to any portion or portions of a meeting that Amtrak properly determines are likely to involve</p><ul><li>contract negotiations, including negotiations for contract procurements and agreements, the disclosure of which would imperil or compromise Amtrak’s competitive position;</li><li>collective bargaining agreements or any terms and conditions that are proposed for inclusion in an agreement; and</li><li>matters involving the employment, appointment,&nbsp;termination, terms and conditions of employment, performance evaluation, promotion, or disciplining of a current or prospective Amtrak officer, employee, or contractor (unless all affected individuals request in writing that the matter or matters be discussed at a public meeting).</li></ul>

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 113 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 188 [Report No. 119–144] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2025 Mr. Nehls (for himself and Mr. Graves ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure June 6, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 3, 2025 A BILL To require that the Amtrak Board of Directors comply with the open meetings requirements of section 552b of title 5, United States Code, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act . 2. Open meetings Section 24301(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking Section 552 of title 5, this part and inserting the following: (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (3), section 552 of title 5 and the open meetings requirements of section 552b of such title, this part ; (2) in the second sentence by striking Section 552 of title 5, United States Code, applies and inserting the following: (2) Timing of application Except as provided in paragraph (3), sections 552 and 552b of title 5 apply ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (3) Scope of application (A) Information The requirements of the second sentence of section 552b(b) of title 5 shall not apply to any portion of an Amtrak meeting and subsections (d) and (e) of section 552b of title 5 shall not apply to any information pertaining to any portion of an Amtrak meeting otherwise required by section 552b of title 5 to be disclosed to the public in any case in which Amtrak properly determines that such portion or portions of the meeting or the disclosure of such information is likely to involve— (i) contract negotiations, including negotiations for procurements and agreements that may result in a contract, the disclosure of which would imperil or compromise the competitive position of Amtrak; (ii) collective bargaining agreements or any terms and conditions that are proposed for inclusion in any collective bargaining agreement, including the negotiation of terms and conditions with employees or representatives of employees of Amtrak; (iii) with respect to any individual who is a prospective officer, employee, or contractor or an officer, employee, or contractor employed or appointed by Amtrak, matters involving the employment, appointment, termination of employment, terms and conditions of employment, evaluation of the performance of, promotion or disciplining of any such individual, unless all such individuals whose rights could be adversely affected request in writing that the matter or matters be discussed at a public meeting; or (iv) confidential commercial information. (B) Additional application In addition to the information described in subparagraph (B), the information described in section 552b(c) shall apply to Amtrak meetings. (4) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to— (A) require Amtrak to disclose information that could put the safety of Amtrak customers or employees at risk; or (B) prevent Amtrak from taking any action otherwise necessary to— (i) comply with law; (ii) honor existing contracts or legally binding agreements; or (iii) carry out normal business activities consistent with the statutory mission and goals of Amtrak. .

June 6, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 188 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2025 Mr. Nehls (for himself and Mr. Graves ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To require that the Amtrak Board of Directors comply with the open meetings requirements of section 552b of title 5, United States Code, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act . 2. Open meetings Section 24301(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking Section 552 of title 5, this part and inserting the following: (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (3), sections 552 and 552b of title 5, this part ; (2) in the second sentence by striking Section 552 of title 5, United States Code, applies and inserting the following: (2) Timing of application Except as provided in paragraph (3), sections 552 and 552b of title 5 apply ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (3) Scope of application (A) Information The requirements of the second sentence of section 552b(b) of title 5 shall not apply to any portion of an Amtrak meeting and subsections (d) and (e) of section 552b of title 5 shall not apply to any information pertaining to any portion of an Amtrak meeting otherwise required by section 552b of title 5 to be disclosed to the public in any case in which Amtrak properly determines that such portion or portions of the meeting or the disclosure of such information is likely to involve— (i) contract negotiations, including negotiations for contract procurements and agreements, the disclosure of which would imperil or compromise the competitive position of Amtrak; (ii) collective bargaining agreements or any terms and conditions that are proposed for inclusion in any collective bargaining agreement, including the negotiation of terms and conditions with employees or representatives of employees of Amtrak; and (iii) with respect to any individual who is a prospective officer, employee, or contractor or an officer, employee, or contractor employed or appointed by Amtrak, matters involving the employment, appointment, termination of employment, terms and conditions of employment, evaluation of the performance of, promotion or disciplining of any such individual, unless all such individuals whose rights could be adversely affected request in writing that the matter or matters be discussed at a public meeting. (B) Additional application In addition to the information described in subparagraph (B), the information described in section 552b(c) shall apply to Amtrak meetings. .