Train EATS Act

Bill: 119-hr-264
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Introduced: 2025-01-09
Latest action: action_date: 2025-01-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-09
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Train Establishment of Appetizing Table Service Act or the Train EATS Act&nbsp;</strong></p><p>This bill requires Amtrak to provide a range of dining services to passengers on overnight routes.</p><p>Specifically, Amtrak must make available (1) traditional dining (i.e., table service), to the extent practicable; and (2) an alternative food and beverage service that is more affordable than traditional dining.</p><p>On each overnight route, Amtrak must offer any traditional dining capacity not otherwise used by first-class or business-class passengers&nbsp;to passengers in coach class for a fee. </p><p>In addition, Amtrak must ensure that traditional dining on overnight routes includes (1) a healthy meal option, and (2) the option for passengers to preorder meals that satisfy their dietary restrictions.</p><p>The Department of Transportation must issue any necessary regulations.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 264 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 9, 2025 Mr. Cohen introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend title 49, United States Code, to require Amtrak to make traditional dining and an alternative, more affordable food and beverage service available to passengers on overnight routes of Amtrak, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Train Establishment of Appetizing Table Service Act or the Train EATS Act . 2. Food and beverage service requirements on overnight routes of Amtrak (a) In general Chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 24324. Food and beverage service requirements on overnight routes of Amtrak. (a) In general On each covered route, Amtrak shall make available— (1) to the extend practicable, in accordance with subsection (b), traditional dining; and (2) to all passengers an alternative food and beverage service that is more affordable than traditional dining. (b) Priority of traditional dining capacity On each covered route on which traditional dining is available, Amtrak shall offer any traditional dining capacity not otherwise used by passengers in First Class or Business Class to passengers traveling in Coach Class (or other base fare class ticket) for a fee on a first-come, first-serve basis. (c) Traditional dining meal options Amtrak shall ensure that traditional dining on a covered route includes— (1) a healthy meal option; and (2) upon pre-order from a passenger to whom traditional dining is offered, meals that satisfy the dietary restrictions of the passenger. (d) Regulations The Secretary of Transportation shall issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered route The term covered route means a rail passenger transportation route operated by Amtrak that is scheduled to depart and arrive on different dates. (2) Healthy meal option The term healthy meal option means a meal the nutritional contents of which are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans established under section 301 of the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 5341 ). (3) Traditional dining With respect to rail passenger transportation, the term traditional dining means a food and beverage service— (A) for which a passenger is seated at a table in a car designated solely for such food and beverage service to order and eat a meal; and (B) that is serviced by wait staff. . (b) Clerical amendments The analysis for chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 24324. Food and beverage service requirements on overnight routes of Amtrak. .