Bill Summary
The "Amtrak Transparency Act" is a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing the transparency of Amtrak's operations. Key provisions of the bill include:
1. **Board of Directors Meetings**: The Act mandates that the Amtrak Board of Directors hold open meetings, providing public notice at least 30 days in advance, including an agenda. It establishes that a majority of board members constitutes a quorum for decision-making and requires at least one annual meeting with state officials from areas served by long-distance or state-supported routes.
2. **Discretionary Bonus Disclosure**: The Act requires Amtrak to publicly disclose the amount of discretionary bonuses awarded to its executives and non-bargaining unit employees, ensuring greater accountability regarding compensation.
3. **Vendor Agreements Disclosure**: The Act stipulates that Amtrak must disclose any vendor agreements valued over $250,000 related to services for state-supported routes upon request from relevant state authorities, promoting transparency in financial dealings.
Overall, the Act aims to improve oversight and accountability in Amtrak's operations, fostering better communication with stakeholders and the public.
Possible Impacts
The Amtrak Transparency Act could affect people in several ways:
1. **Increased Public Participation and Oversight**: By requiring Amtrak's Board of Directors to hold open meetings and disclose agendas in advance, the legislation enables greater public involvement in the decision-making processes. This transparency allows citizens and stakeholders, including state officials and local communities, to attend these meetings, voice their concerns, and stay informed about decisions that affect Amtrak services and operations. As a result, the public may feel more empowered and have greater influence over transportation policies.
2. **Accountability in Financial Practices**: The requirement for Amtrak to publicly disclose discretionary bonuses paid to executives and non-bargaining unit employees enhances accountability regarding the use of taxpayer funds. This provision could lead to increased scrutiny of how Amtrak allocates its resources, potentially fostering a culture of fiscal responsibility and discouraging excessive compensation practices. Stakeholders, including passengers and taxpayers, may feel more assured that their money is being spent wisely.
3. **Improved Vendor Transparency**: By mandating Amtrak to disclose vendor agreements over a specific value, this legislation promotes transparency in the procurement process. State officials and the public will have insight into the financial transactions and agreements that support Amtrak's operations. This could lead to better vendor accountability and competition among service providers, ultimately benefiting passengers through improved service quality and potentially lower costs associated with rail services.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 174 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 174
To improve the transparency of Amtrak operations, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 21, 2025
Mrs. Fischer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve the transparency of Amtrak operations, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Amtrak Transparency Act''.
SEC. 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS.
Section 24302 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(6), by striking ``in an open
meeting''; and
(2) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
``(e) Meetings.--
``(1) Quorum.--A majority of the members serving on the
Board who are eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum for
doing business.
``(2) Notice; open meetings.--
``(A) Notice.--Not later than 30 days before
convening any meeting of the Board, the Board shall
post, on a publicly accessible website, an announcement
of the meeting that includes the anticipated agenda for
the meeting.
``(B) Open meetings.--All meetings of the Board
shall comply with the requirements set forth in section
552b of title 5.
``(3) Annual meeting with states.--Not less frequently than
annually, the Board shall convene a meeting to which the head
of the Department of Transportation of each State traversed by
a long-distance route or State-supported route, or the designee
of such State official, shall be invited to participate.''.
SEC. 3. DISCRETIONARY BONUS DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT.
Section 24303(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``The preceding sentence'' and inserting ``Amtrak shall
publicly disclose the amount of each discretionary bonus paid to any
officer or non-bargaining unit employee. The 2 preceding sentences''.
SEC. 4. DISCLOSURE OF VENDOR AGREEMENTS.
Section 24315(h) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following: ``Upon request, Amtrak shall disclose
to a State or the State-Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, any
vendor agreement valued at not less than $250,000 for services procured
to implement a service on a State-supported route.''.
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