Think Differently Transportation Act
This bill requires the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to include information on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in a required annual report to Congress.
Specifically, Amtrak must incorporate into the annual report an action plan for bringing Amtrak rail cars and stations into compliance with the ADA as required by a 2020 settlement agreement entered into between Amtrak and the Department of Justice. (Under the agreement, Amtrak committed to complying with the ADA and making intercity rail stations accessible.)
Amtrak must also include a status report on ADA compliance at Amtrak-served stations (based on a station assessment by Amtrak or the party responsible for ADA compliance). A station assessment means a review of all components of a station, including the building, platform, path to train, and parking areas, as required by the U.S. Access Board. For those Amtrak-served stations where Amtrak is not responsible for ADA compliance, Amtrak must include in the report information on the responsible party.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6248 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6248
To require Amtrak to report to Congress information on Amtrak
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with
respect to trains and stations.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 6, 2023
Mr. Molinaro (for himself, Mr. Payne, Mr. Nehls, Ms. Norton, Mr.
Pappas, Mr. Carson, and Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require Amtrak to report to Congress information on Amtrak
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with
respect to trains and stations.
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 ``Think Differently Transportation
Act''.
SEC. 2. REPORT ON AMTRAK ADA COMPLIANCE.
Section 24315(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (C) by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) shall include an action plan for bringing
Amtrak rail cars and Amtrak-served stations that are
not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) into compliance
with such Act as required by the settlement agreement
entered into in 2020 between Amtrak and the Department
of Justice, as applicable; and
``(E) shall include a status report on--
``(i) Amtrak-served stations for which
Amtrak is solely responsible for compliance
with such Act based on an assessment carried
out by Amtrak, including a timeline for any
required compliance with such Act consistent
with the terms of the agreement described in
subparagraph (D);
``(ii) Amtrak-served stations for which
Amtrak has a shared responsibility for
compliance with such Act based on an assessment
carried out by Amtrak, including a timeline for
any required compliance with such Act for the
portions of the station for which Amtrak is the
responsible party consistent with the terms of
the agreement described in subparagraph (D),
and who is responsible for compliance with such
Act for the other portions of the Amtrak-served
station where Amtrak is not the responsible
party and the timeline for compliance where
Amtrak is not the responsible party; and
``(iii) the status of compliance with such
Act for all Amtrak-served stations for which
Amtrak is not the responsible party, nor is
responsible for a portion of the station, and
the entity or entities that have responsibility
for compliance with such Act, based on an
assessment carried out by Amtrak.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Discharged
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 118-510.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 118-510.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 424.
Mr. Molinaro moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3385-3386)
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6248.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3385-3386)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3385-3386)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.