S. 2306: Rail Passenger Service Restructuring, Reauthorization, and Development Act

108th Congress · introduced 2004-04-08 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4031-4042)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2004-04-08 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4031-4042) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Rail Passenger Service Restructuring, Reauthorization, and Development Act

Plain summary

Rail Passenger Service Restructuring, Reauthorization, and Development Act - Amends Federal law regarding the intercity passenger rail service program to restructure Amtrak into two independent entities known as: (1) the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), which shall provide overall supervision of the restructuring of the intercity passenger rail program; and (2) the American Passenger Railway Corporation (APRC), which shall be responsible (in place of Amtrak) for conducting passenger operations, infrastructure maintenance, and related services, including operation of reservation centers and ownership and maintenance of rolling stock. Authorizes operating grants to States, and to the APRC, to reimburse operators of corridor routes and of long distance routes operated by Amtrak on the date before restructuring for a portion of the operating subsidies required to operate those routes with the same train frequencies. Establishes the Long Distance Route Restructuring Commission, which shall submit to Congress a plan for restructuring long distance intercity passenger rail routes in a manner that will reduce Federal operating subsidies on them by at least 50 percent by the end of FY 2010. Sets forth certain criteria for the restructuring of a long distance route as a linked corridor. Provides for the transfer of certain Amtrak assets to the APRC. Authorizes Northeast Corridor States and the District of Columbia to enter into the Northeast Corridor Compact to manage railroad operations and rail service and conduct related activities on the Northeast Corridor mainline between Boston Massachusetts, and Washington, DC (effectively succeeding to the responsibilities of Amtrak as manager of the Northeast Corridor). Directs the Secretary to implement a capital grant program to restore the mainline of the Northeast Corridor to a state of good repair. Authorizes the Secretary to make capital investment grants to establish or add additional train frequencies for new, and modernization of existing, intercity corridor passenger rail service. Prohibits Amtrak and the APRC from entering into any obligation secured by assets. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation to employ an independent financial consultant to: (1) assess Amtrak's financial accounting and reporting system; and (2) design and assist the APRC in implementing a modern system. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to restructure Amtrak's indebtedness, and the Secretary of Transportation to negotiate with Amtrak debt- and leaseholders accordingly, and secure repayment agreements. Authorizes appropriations.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Rail Passenger Service Restructuring, Reauthorization, and Development Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108s2306.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/s>

Record fed-us-cong108-s2306 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108