Baby Changing on Board Act

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan bill, the Baby Changing on Board Act. This is a simple, commonsense bill, and it is long overdue.

Every parent deserves the basic dignity of a clean, safe space to change their baby's diaper, no matter how they travel. Right now, many long-distance trains can go for hours without a single stop.

Families riding Amtrak shouldn't have to change their babies on the floor of a train car or in unsafe, unsanitary conditions. It is simply unacceptable, and it is avoidable.

Mr. Speaker, my bill ensures that every new Amtrak train includes a baby-changing table in at least one restroom per car, including ADA- compliant restrooms, because, let's be real, babies don't wait for layovers when they need to be changed.

Mr. Speaker, I will paint the picture: You are holding your baby in one arm, a diaper bag in the other, and probably some other stuff, too. You make your way to the restroom with your kids and your bags, only to realize there is no changing table. What are you supposed to do?

This is not a hypothetical. Millions of Americans ride Amtrak every year, so those trains should work for everyone, including families with young kids. Yet, on many of those trains, parents, usually moms, are forced to make an impossible choice: change their child on a dirty floor or seat, or just sit there and hope for the best.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from families and parents in my northern Illinois community who rely on Amtrak, and they are tired of getting stuck in this impossible position on trains that don't have safe facilities for the littlest riders.

Since this is a safety issue for these children, it is a public health issue. Frankly, it is about dignity. These parents aren't asking for luxury. They are asking for a clean, flat surface and some basic respect.

Mr. Speaker, we all know diaper changes are not optional, which is why safe baby-changing stations shouldn't be optional, either.

The Baby Changing on Board Act is about building a country where every family has what they need to thrive. That starts with recognizing that caregiving matters, parenting matters, and infrastructure should actually support it.

This bill will not solve every challenge that parents face, but it is a meaningful step toward a more family-friendly future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support of this bill. In particular, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew) for working to introduce it with me. I urge everyone in this Chamber to vote ``yes.''

Let's make changing a diaper on a train a little less gross and a lot more humane.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 248) to require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 248.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 248, the Baby Changing on Board Act is effective, bipartisan legislation intended to help parents better care for their children when traveling.

The bill requires Amtrak to install baby changing tables in all ADA- accessible restrooms on trains owned by Amtrak. These facilities are common on other transportation modes, including airlines. They are likewise necessary on intercity passenger rails.

The bipartisan bill is a long, overdue improvement to Amtrak service.

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

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 248 is long overdue. It provides help for American families traveling with young children. It simply makes sense for Amtrak to comply with ADA requirements, especially as a recipient of Federal funding.

I was glad to see the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure favorably report this measure, and I look forward to the House doing so, as well.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the Baby Changing on Board Act. This bill requires Amtrak to install baby changing stations in accessible bathrooms on new passenger rail cars and include clear signage indicating the availability of changing stations. This will ensure that parents with young children on Amtrak trains can use accessible, safe, and comfortable changing facilities.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this legislation to create a safer, cleaner, and more accessible experience for parents and caregivers traveling with young children. I urge my colleagues to support the Baby Changing on Board Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood), the prime sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the Baby Changing on Board Act, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.