HR 188
· 119th Congress
· Transportation and Public Works
Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act
Sponsor
Latest action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 113.
Action timeline
Every recorded action on this bill, newest first. Stage badges color-code the legislative path.
Jun 06, 2025
committee
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-144.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Jun 06, 2025
other
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 113.
Apr 02, 2025
committee
Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Discharged
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Apr 02, 2025
committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Apr 02, 2025
committee
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Jan 04, 2025
committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee
Jan 03, 2025
introduced
Introduced in House
Jan 03, 2025
introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Text versions
Each stage of the bill — official text published by GPO. Click any format to read on congress.gov / govinfo.
CRS summaries
Plain-English summaries written by the Congressional Research Service — neutral, nonpartisan staff who summarize bills as they advance through stages. The authoritative description of what each version of the bill does.
00
Introduced in House
Jan 03, 2025
Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act
This bill directs Amtrak to comply with federal open meeting requirements under the Government in the Sunshine Act, with exceptions.
Under the bill, certain open meeting requirements do not apply to any portion or portions of a meeting that Amtrak properly determines are likely to involve
contract negotiations, including negotiations for contract procurements and agreements, the disclosure of which would imperil or compromise Amtrak’s competitive position;
collective bargaining agreements or any terms and conditions that are proposed for inclusion in an agreement; and
matters involving the employment, appointment, termination, terms and conditions of employment, performance evaluation, promotion, or disciplining of a current or prospective Amtrak officer, employee, or contractor (unless all affected individuals request in writing that the matter or matters be discussed at a public meeting).
via Congressional Research Service · published through congress.gov
Changelog
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih / is — Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh / rfs — Referred to a committee for review.rh / rs — Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs / pch — Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh / es — Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh / rds — Received by the other chamber.eah / eas — Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath / ats — Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr — Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl — Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp — Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih/is— Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh/rfs— Referred to a committee for review.rh/rs— Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs/pch— Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh/es— Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh/rds— Received by the other chamber.eah/eas— Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath/ats— Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr— Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl— Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp— Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
Line-level diff between text versions of this bill — what actually changed at each legislative stage.
+60
−10
39 unchanged
--- Introduced (House)
+++ Reported (House)
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
-[H.R. 188 Introduced in House (IH)]
+[H.R. 188 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
+Union Calendar No. 113
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 188
+
+[Report No. 119-144]
To require that the Amtrak Board of Directors comply with the open
meetings requirements of section 552b of title 5, United States Code,
@@ -20,6 +23,15 @@
Mr. Nehls (for himself and Mr. Graves) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
+
+June 6, 2025
+
+Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
+House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
+[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
+in italic]
+[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January
+3, 2025]
_______________________________________________________________________
@@ -43,7 +55,8 @@
(1) by striking ``Section 552 of title 5, this part'' and
inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3),
-sections 552 and 552b of title 5, this part'';
+section 552 of title 5 and the open meetings requirements of
+section 552b of such title, this part'';
(2) in the second sentence by striking ``Section 552 of
title 5, United States Code, applies'' and inserting the
following:
@@ -62,16 +75,16 @@
portions of the meeting or the disclosure of such
information is likely to involve--
``(i) contract negotiations, including
-negotiations for contract procurements and
-agreements, the disclosure of which would
-imperil or compromise the competitive position
-of Amtrak;
+negotiations for procurements and agreements
+that may result in a contract, the disclosure
+of which would imperil or compromise the
+competitive position of Amtrak;
``(ii) collective bargaining agreements or
any terms and conditions that are proposed for
inclusion in any collective bargaining
agreement, including the negotiation of terms
and conditions with employees or
-representatives of employees of Amtrak; and
+representatives of employees of Amtrak;
``(iii) with respect to any individual who
is a prospective officer, employee, or
contractor or an officer, employee, or
@@ -83,9 +96,46 @@
individual, unless all such individuals whose
rights could be adversely affected request in
writing that the matter or matters be discussed
-at a public meeting.
+at a public meeting; or
+``(iv) confidential commercial information.
``(B) Additional application.--In addition to the
information described in subparagraph (B), the
information described in section 552b(c) shall apply to
-Amtrak meetings.''.
-<all>
+Amtrak meetings.
+``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
+shall be construed to--
+``(A) require Amtrak to disclose information that
+could put the safety of Amtrak customers or employees
+at risk; or
+``(B) prevent Amtrak from taking any action
+otherwise necessary to--
+``(i) comply with law;
+``(ii) honor existing contracts or legally
+binding agreements; or
+``(iii) carry out normal business
+activities consistent with the statutory
+mission and goals of Amtrak.''.
+Union Calendar No. 113
+
+119th CONGRESS
+
+1st Session
+
+H. R. 188
+
+[Report No. 119-144]
+
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+A BILL
+
+To require that the Amtrak Board of Directors comply with the open
+meetings requirements of section 552b of title 5, United States Code,
+and for other purposes.
+
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+June 6, 2025
+
+Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
+House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
Lobbying activity
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4
filings · 2026 Q3
1
filings · 2025 Q4
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Cosponsors (1)
Members who signed on to support this bill.