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A bill to improve the transparency of Amtrak operations, and for other purposes.

6/12/2024, 10:56 AM

Summary of Bill S 4492

Bill 118 s 4492, also known as the Amtrak Transparency and Accountability Act, aims to enhance the transparency of Amtrak's operations. The bill includes provisions that require Amtrak to provide regular updates on its financial status, performance metrics, and service quality to Congress and the public. Additionally, the bill mandates that Amtrak disclose any potential conflicts of interest among its board members and executives.

Furthermore, the bill seeks to improve the accountability of Amtrak by requiring the company to establish clear goals and objectives for its operations, as well as develop a plan for achieving those goals. The bill also calls for increased oversight of Amtrak's spending and budgeting processes to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently and effectively.

Overall, the Amtrak Transparency and Accountability Act aims to promote greater transparency and accountability within the operations of Amtrak, ultimately leading to improved service for passengers and better stewardship of taxpayer funds.

Congressional Summary of S 4492

Amtrak Transparency Act

This bill increases Amtrak's open meeting and public disclosure requirements.

Specifically, the Amtrak Board of Directors must comply with federal open meeting requirements under the Government in the Sunshine Act.

In addition, at least 30 days prior to the board convening, the board must publicly post an announcement of the meeting and the anticipated meeting agenda.

The board must also annually convene a meeting to which state departments of transportation with long-distance routes or state-supported routes are invited to participate.

Further, Amtrak must publicly disclose the discretionary bonus compensation paid to an Amtrak officer or non-bargaining unit employee.

Upon request, Amtrak must also disclose to a state or the State-Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Committee vendor agreements of $250,000 or more for certain services on state-supported routes.

Current Status of Bill S 4492

Bill S 4492 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since June 11, 2024. Bill S 4492 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the Senate on June 11, 2024.  Bill S 4492's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. as of June 11, 2024

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 4492

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
0
Republican Sponsors
1
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
0
Democrat Cosponsors
0
Republican Cosponsors
0
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 4492

Primary Policy Focus

Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 4492

A bill to improve the transparency of Amtrak operations, and for other purposes.
A bill to improve the transparency of Amtrak operations, and for other purposes.

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