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HR 188PendingCongress 119

Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act

Introduced
January 3, 2025
Latest Action
June 6, 2025
Sponsor
Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R) - TX
Official Source
Congress.gov
Latest Action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 113.
Subjects
Congressional oversightGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesNational Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)Railroads

AI Summary

The bill mandates Amtrak to adhere to open meeting laws, enhancing transparency and accountability.

What This Bill Does

The Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act mandates that the Amtrak Board of Directors follow the open meetings requirements outlined in section 552b of title 5, United States Code. This change aims to make Amtrak's decision-making processes more transparent, particularly in areas that could impact its service and financial health. The bill specifies exceptions for certain sensitive topics, such as contract negotiations and personnel matters, to protect competitive and operational integrity.

Key Points

  • Amtrak Board of Directors must comply with federal open meetings laws.
  • Exceptions are made for sensitive topics like contract negotiations and personnel matters.
  • Aims to increase transparency and accountability to passengers and taxpayers.
  • Seeks to protect Amtrak's competitive and operational integrity while enhancing public trust.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Amtrak's Board of Directors
  • Amtrak passengers
  • Taxpayers funding Amtrak
  • Amtrak employees and contractors

Potential Effects

  • Increased public access to Amtrak's decision-making processes.
  • Potential for greater public scrutiny and trust in Amtrak.
  • Improved accountability on how taxpayer funds are used by Amtrak.

Political Context

Likely bipartisan support:Unlikely
Summary generated by AI (gpt-4-turbo-preview) on January 31, 2026. This is an automated analysis and may contain errors. Always refer to the official bill text for accurate information.