Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8692) 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, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 8692.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the Government in the Sunshine Act, or Sunshine Act, was established to increase the public's confidence in its government.

Under the Sunshine Act, meetings of government agencies must be open to the public unless one of the statute's exemptions apply.

The act defines an agency as one headed by a collegial body, a majority of whose members are nominated by the President, and whose appointment is subject to advice and consent of the Senate. This clearly describes Amtrak.

The need for full transparency at Amtrak has never been greater. Here are just a few examples.

First, last fiscal year, Amtrak reported operating losses of $757 million. These were losses made up for by taxpayers. Its Acela II train sets are more than 3 years behind schedule, and the delays have cost Amtrak more than $140 million in lost revenues.

Additionally, the Northeast Corridor Commission estimates its state of good repair backlog on the Northeast Corridor exceeds $78.7 billion. Further, the Biden administration's infrastructure law provides for more than $66 billion in advanced appropriations that Amtrak can use to expand service, regardless of the need to make a profit.

With so much of the taxpayers' money in Amtrak's hands, there clearly needs to be more transparency and accountability for the decisions made by the passenger rail service's board, and this bill provides just that.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Nehls).

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8692 represents an important step in providing much-needed transparency and accountability to meetings by Amtrak's board of directors and the decisions they make that involve billions of taxpayer dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8692, the Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act, is essential legislation for mandating transparency from Amtrak.

This bill applies the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 to Amtrak, requiring meetings of its board of directors to be open to public observation with certain exceptions.

Amtrak's status as a governmental entity for the purposes of the Sunshine Act is beyond dispute. All its voting board members are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It shares characteristics with other government-created and -sponsored entities that require board of director meetings to be open.

Amtrak receives substantial taxpayer support. Never in its more than 50-year history has it made a profit, and now it has access to more than $66 billion. That is with a b, Mr. Speaker. For those of you upstairs, that is $66 billion in taxpayer support through the Biden administration's infrastructure law.

How this funding will be utilized and how Amtrak is managed is of great importance to its customers, employees, and taxpayers at large.

It is often said that sunshine is the best disinfectant. Opening up many of Amtrak's board of director meetings will better ensure that its decisions are made in the best interest of the public. With so much at stake, Amtrak should not be the exception to transparency.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to Chairman Graves and the members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for supporting H.R. 8692, and I urge support of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8692. This bill requires Amtrak's board of directors to hold open meetings, ensures the public is notified of upcoming meetings, and allows the public to observe board meetings.

The bill increases transparency and allows exceptions when certain sensitive financial and contractual obligations are discussed, including contract negotiations with Amtrak's workers.

Transparency is important, and the concept of open board meetings has support from the Rail Passengers Association and the States for Passenger Rail Coalition.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will increase transparency of Amtrak decisions as Amtrak uses Federal funding to improve operations, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.