Train FOOD Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 265
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-10: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-08T13:35:04Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Train Furtherance of Outstanding Onboard Dining Act (Train FOOD Act) aims to improve Amtrak's food and beverage services by requiring the company to establish oversight mechanisms and report annually to Congress on its progress in implementing recommendations from the Amtrak Food and Beverage Working Group. This working group previously studied ways to enhance onboard dining experiences for passengers.
Key Provisions
- Advisory Committee Establishment: Within one year of the bill's enactment, Amtrak must create an Implementation Advisory Committee. This group provides internal feedback on implementing the working group's recommendations.
- Membership: Includes representatives from Amtrak, labor unions for food and beverage employees, nonprofit passenger advocacy groups, and states that fund Amtrak routes.
- Termination: The committee ends after Amtrak submits its final implementation report.
- Annual Reporting Requirement: Starting one year after enactment, and continuing until all recommendations are implemented or deemed unfeasible, Amtrak must submit yearly reports to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Reports must also be posted on Amtrak's public website.
- Report Contents:
- Progress on each recommendation.
- List of fully implemented recommendations.
- List of recommendations considered impractical or impossible, with explanations (including estimated costs if funding is the barrier).
- Description of any changes to food and beverage services since the prior report (or enactment date for the first report).
- Feedback from the advisory committee.
- Government Accountability Office (GAO) Review: Within two years of enactment, the GAO (an independent agency that audits government operations) must submit a report to the same congressional committees assessing Amtrak's implementation progress.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 24321 of Title 49, United States Code (which governs Amtrak's operations and reporting). It adds new subsections (d) and (e) focused on the advisory committee and annual reports, while redesignating the existing subsection (d) as (f). Previously, this section required Amtrak to report on food and beverage reforms but lacked specific mandates for ongoing oversight, annual status updates, or an advisory body involving stakeholders.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases administrative burden on Amtrak through committee formation and reporting; enhances congressional oversight of federal rail funding; requires GAO resources for a one-time review.
- On Citizens: Could lead to better quality and variety in Amtrak's onboard meals, benefiting passengers on long-distance routes who rely on these services.
- On International Relations: Minimal impact, as the bill focuses on domestic passenger rail services with no provisions affecting cross-border operations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Amtrak: Directly responsible for compliance, including costs for implementation and reporting.
- Amtrak Employees: Food and beverage workers, represented by labor unions, gain input through the advisory committee.
- Passengers: Advocacy nonprofits ensure passenger perspectives influence service improvements.
- State Governments: Funding states participate in oversight, potentially influencing route-specific services.
- Congress and GAO: Gain tools for monitoring Amtrak's use of public funds.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens accountability under existing Amtrak statutes by mandating transparent reporting and stakeholder involvement, without creating new enforcement penalties. "Impractical or impossible" determinations allow flexibility but require justification to prevent arbitrary decisions.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; aligns with Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and oversee federally supported entities like Amtrak.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan interest in improving public transportation services, potentially pressuring Amtrak to prioritize passenger amenities amid ongoing debates over rail funding and efficiency.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-10: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- 2025-01-09: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-01-09: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Train Furtherance of Outstanding Onboard Dining Act — issued 2025-01-09 — PDF (5 pages)