Bill · H.R. 265· House(119-HR-265)
Train FOOD Act
- Introduced
- 1/9/2025
- Last activity
- 1/10/2025 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- Sponsored by
- Steve Cohen
- Cosponsors
- - 6 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Train FOOD Act," seeks to amend title 49 of the United States Code regarding Amtrak. It requires Amtrak to establish an advisory committee to oversee the implementation of recommendations from the Amtrak Food and Beverage Working Group. Amtrak must also submit an annual report to specific House and Senate committees regarding its progress on these recommendations. Furthermore, the bill mandates that these reports be made available on a public website. Finally, the Comptroller General is required to submit a report on Amtrak's progress within two years of the act's enactment.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+5
The bill mandates that Amtrak's annual implementation reports be made available on a publicly accessible website.
Would union members be better off under this?+3
The bill includes labor organizations representing food and beverage employees as members of the advisory committee.
Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise?+3
The bill requires labor organizations representing food and beverage employees to have representation on the new advisory committee.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency: Amtrak is required to make its annual implementation reports available on a publicly accessible website (Section 2, subsection e, paragraph 1, subparagraph A). This allows the public to see how food and beverage services are changing.
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Diverse Representation in Oversight: An advisory committee will be established to provide internal review, consisting of members representing Amtrak, labor organizations for food and beverage employees, nonprofit organizations representing passengers, and States providing funding for State-ssupported routes (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph (d), subparagraphs 1 and 2).
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Accountability for Service Improvements: The bill requires Amtrak to report on the progress made toward implementing recommendations and to identify any recommendations they deem impractical or impossible to implement, including a justification and estimated costs if funding is the issue (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph (d), subparagraph 2, subsection e, paragraph 1, subparagraph 2).
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External Oversight: The Comptroller General of the United States is tasked with submitting a report to Congress describing the progress Amtrak has made in implementing the recommendations (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph (b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly detailed within the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Union Workers+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Union Protections+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Transit+2
- 2/25/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/21/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 1/15/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 1/14/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/10/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- 1/9/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Seth MoultonDemocrat · Massachusetts
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey