[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1788 Introduced in House (IH)]

  1st Session
                                H. R. 1788

To reform the statutes relating to Amtrak, to authorize appropriations 
                  for Amtrak, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 8, 1995

  Ms. Molinari (for herself and Mr. Shuster) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                             Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To reform the statutes relating to Amtrak, to authorize appropriations 
                  for Amtrak, and for other purposes.
    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Amtrak Reform and Privatization Act 
of 1995''.

                      TITLE I--PROCUREMENT REFORMS

SEC. 101. CONTRACTING OUT.

    Section 24312(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(b) Contracting Out.--Notwithstanding any arrangement in effect 
on the date of the enactment of the Amtrak Reform and Privatization Act 
of 1995, Amtrak, in order to realize demonstrable economic benefits, 
may contract out work normally performed by an employee of a bargaining 
unit covered by a contract between a labor organization and Amtrak or a 
rail carrier that provided intercity rail passenger transportation on 
October 30, 1970.''.

SEC. 102. CONTRACTING PRACTICES.

    (a) Below-Cost Competition.--Section 24305(b) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Below-Cost Competition.--(1) Amtrak shall not submit any bid 
for the performance of services under a contract for an amount less 
than the cost to Amtrak of performing such services, with respect to 
any activity other than the provision of intercity rail passenger 
transportation, commuter rail passenger transportation, or mail or 
express transportation. For purposes of this subsection, the cost to 
Amtrak of performing services shall be determined using generally 
accepted accounting principles for contracting.
    ``(2) Any aggrieved individual may commence a civil action for 
violation of paragraph (1). The United States district courts shall 
have jurisdiction, without regard to the amount in controversy or the 
citizenship of the parties, to enforce paragraph (1). The court, in 
issuing any final order in any action brought pursuant to this 
paragraph, may award bid preparation costs, anticipated profits, and 
litigation costs, including reasonable attorney and expert witness 
fees, to any prevailing or substantially prevailing party. The court 
may, if a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is 
sought, require the filing of a bond or equivalent security in 
accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.''.
    (b) Through Service in Conjunction With Intercity Bus Operations.--
(1) Section 24305(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(3)(A) Except as provided in subsection (d)(2), Amtrak may enter 
into a contract with a motor carrier of passengers for the intercity 
transportation of passengers by motor carrier over regular routes only 
if--
            ``(i) the motor carrier is not a public recipient of 
        governmental assistance, as such term is defined in section 
        10922(d)(1)(F)(i) of this title, other than a recipient of 
        funds under section 18 of the Federal Transit Act;
            ``(ii) the passengers have had prior movement by rail or 
        will have subsequent movement by rail; and
            ``(iii) the buses, when used in the provision of such 
        transportation, are used exclusively for the transportation of 
        passengers described in clause (ii).
    ``(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to transportation funded in 
whole or in part by a State or local government, or to ticket selling 
agreements.''.
    (2) Section 24305(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(3) Congress encourages Amtrak and motor common carriers of 
passengers to use the authority conferred in section 11342(a) of this 
title for the purpose of providing improved service to the public and 
economy of operation.''.
SEC. 103. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

    Section 24301(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``Section 552 of title 5, this part,'' and inserting in lieu 
thereof ``This part''.

                     TITLE II--OPERATIONAL REFORMS

SEC. 201. BASIC SYSTEM.

    (a) Operation of Basic System.--Section 24701 of title 49, United 
States Code, and the item relating thereto in the table of sections of 
chapter 247 of such title, are repealed.
    (b) Improving Rail Passenger Transportation.--Section 24702 of 
title 49, United States Code, and the item relating thereto in the 
table of sections of chapter 247 of such title, are repealed.
    (c) Discontinuance.--Section 24706 of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``90 days'' and inserting in lieu 
                thereof ``180 days'';
                    (B) by striking ``a discontinuance under section 
                24704 or 24707(a) or (b) of this title'' and inserting 
                in lieu thereof ``discontinuing service over a route''; 
                and
                    (C) by inserting ``or assume'' after ``agree to 
                share'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``section 24704 or 
        24707(a) or (b) of this title'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
        ``paragraph (1)''; and
            (3) by striking subsection (b).
    (d) Cost and Performance Review.--Section 24707 of title 49, United 
States Code, and the item relating thereto in the table of sections of 
chapter 247 of such title, are repealed.
    (e) Special Commuter Transportation.--Section 24708 of title 49, 
United States Code, and the item relating thereto in the table of 
sections of chapter 247 of such title, are repealed.
    (f) Conforming Amendment.--Section 24312(a)(1) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``, 24701(a),''.

SEC. 202. MAIL, EXPRESS, AND AUTO-FERRY TRANSPORTATION.

    (a) Repeal.--Section 24306 of title 49, United States Code, and the 
item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 243 of such 
title, are repealed.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 24301 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(o) Nonapplication of Certain Other Laws.--State and local laws 
and regulations that impair the provision of mail, express, and auto-
ferry transportation do not apply to Amtrak or a rail carrier providing 
mail, express, or auto-ferry transportation.''.

SEC. 203. ROUTE AND SERVICE CRITERIA.

    Section 24703 of title 49, United States Code, and the item 
relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 247 of such title, 
are repealed.

SEC. 204. ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING ROUTES.

    Section 24705 of title 49, United States Code, and the item 
relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 247 of such title, 
are repealed.

SEC. 205. TRANSPORTATION REQUESTED BY STATES, AUTHORITIES, AND OTHER 
              PERSONS.

    (a) Repeal.--Section 24704 of title 49, United States Code, and the 
item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 247 of such 
title, are repealed.
    (b) Existing Agreements.--Amtrak shall not, after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, be required to provide transportation services 
pursuant to an agreement entered into before such date of enactment 
under the section repealed by subsection (a) of this section.
    (c) State, Regional, and Local Cooperation.--Section 24101(c)(2) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``, separately or 
in combination,'' after ``and the private sector''.
    (d) Conforming Amendment.--Section 24312(a)(1) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``or 24704(b)(2)''.

SEC. 206. AMTRAK COMMUTER.

    (a) Repeal of Chapter 245.--Chapter 245 of title 49, United States 
Code, and the item relating thereto in the table of chapters of 
subtitle V of such title, are repealed.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 24301(f) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) Tax Exemption for Certain Commuter Authorities.--A commuter 
authority that was eligible to make a contract with Amtrak Commuter to 
provide commuter rail passenger transportation but which decided to 
provide its own rail passenger transportation beginning January 1, 
1983, is exempt, effective October 1, 1981, from paying a tax or fee to 
the same extent Amtrak is exempt.''.
    (2) Subsection (a) of this section shall not affect any trackage 
rights held by Amtrak or the Consolidated Rail Corporation.
SEC. 207. COMMUTER COST SHARING ON THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR.

    (a) Determination of Compensation.--(1) Section 24904(c)(2) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (A) by striking ``between intercity rail passenger and rail 
        freight transportation'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``among 
        intercity rail passenger, commuter rail passenger, and rail 
        freight transportation'';
            (B) by inserting ``commuter rail carrier or'' after 
        ``Commission shall assign to a''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``In 
        the case of commuter rail passenger transportation, the costs 
        to be reimbursed shall not include any Amtrak general or 
        administrative costs, corporate overhead costs, or return on 
        investment costs for assets paid for with Federal or State 
        funds.''.
    (2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall 
take effect 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Privatization.--Section 24101(d) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d) Minimizing Government Subsidies.--To carry out this part, 
Amtrak is encouraged to make agreements with the private sector and 
undertake initiatives that are consistent with good business judgment, 
that produce income to minimize Government subsidies, and that promote 
the potential privatization of Amtrak's operations.''.
SEC. 208. ACCESS TO RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS.

    Section 24315 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Access to Records and Accounts.--A State shall have access to 
Amtrak's records, accounts, and other necessary documents used to 
determine the amount of any payment to Amtrak required of the State.''.

                 TITLE III--EMPLOYEE PROTECTION REFORMS

SEC. 301. SERVICE DISCONTINUANCE.
    (a) Repeal.--Section 24706 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking subsection (c).
    (b) Incorporation Into Collective Bargaining Contracts.--The 
requirements of section 24706(c) of title 49, United States Code, and 
all arrangements, agreements, and conditions thereunder, as in effect 
before the date of enactment of this Act, shall become a part of the 
collective bargaining contracts between Amtrak and all labor 
organizations which have such contracts with Amtrak. Such requirements 
shall be subject to collective bargaining under the Railway Labor Act.
    (c) Railway Labor Act Procedures.--(1) Notwithstanding any 
arrangement in effect before the date of the enactment of this Act, 
notices under section 6 of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 156) with 
respect to all rates of pay, rules, and working conditions governed by 
section 24706(c) of title 49, United States Code, shall be deemed 
served and effective on the date of the enactment of this Act. Each 
affected labor organization representing Amtrak employees, and Amtrak, 
shall promptly supply specific information and proposals with respect 
to each such notice.
    (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), the National Mediation 
Board shall complete all efforts, with respect to each dispute 
described in paragraph (1), under section 5 of the Railway Labor Act 
(45 U.S.C. 155) not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
    (3) The parties to any dispute described in paragraph (1) may agree 
to submit the dispute to arbitration under section 7 of the Railway 
Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 157), and any award resulting therefrom shall be 
retroactive to the date which is 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (4) With respect to any dispute described in paragraph (1) which--
            (A) is unresolved as of the date which is 270 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act; and
            (B) is not submitted to arbitration as described in 
        paragraph (3),
the President shall appoint an Emergency Board under section 10 of the 
Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 160). No extensions of the schedule 
provided for in such section 10 shall be permitted. In any work 
stoppage or other self-help occurring after the completion of the 
procedures required by such section 10, the penalties described in 
section 9A(i) and (j) of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 159a(i) and 
(j)) shall apply to both Amtrak and its employees.
    (d) No Effect on Certain Agreements.--The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall not affect the validity of any agreement entered 
into before the date of the enactment of this Act under section 11347 
or 5333 of title 49, United States Code.
    (e) Intercity Passenger Service Employees.--(1) Section 1165 of the 
Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981 (45 U.S.C. 1113) is amended by 
striking ``(a) After January 1, 1983'' and all that follows through 
``(b) Conrail employees'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Conrail 
employees''.
    (2) Any contract or agreement entered into before the date of the 
enactment of this Act, pursuant to such section 1165(a), shall be 
unenforceable and void to the extent it relates to the requirements of 
such subsection.
    (f) Technical Amendment.--Section 11347 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``sections 24307(c), 24312, and'' and 
inserting in lieu thereof ``section''.

                  TITLE IV--USE OF RAILROAD FACILITIES

SEC. 401. COMPENSATION.

    (a) Compensation Determination.--Section 24308 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended in subsection (a)(2)(B) by inserting ``If the 
facilities for which compensation is sought are owned or provided by a 
commuter authority or a regional transportation authority, no cross-
subsidization shall be permitted by the Commission among intercity rail 
passenger, commuter rail passenger, and rail freight transportation.'' 
after ``and providing the services.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 10362(b) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (5) and redesignating 
paragraphs (6) through (8) as paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively.

SEC. 402. LIABILITY LIMITATION.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 281 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 28103. Limitations on rail passenger transportation liability
    ``(a) Limitations.--(1) Notwithstanding any other statutory or 
common law or public policy, or the nature of the conduct giving rise 
to damages or liability, in a claim for personal injury, death, or 
damage to property arising from or in connection with the provision of 
rail passenger transportation, or from or in connection with any 
operations over or use of right-of-way or facilities owned, leased, or 
maintained by Amtrak, or from or in connection with any rail passenger 
transportation operations over or rail passenger transportation use of 
right-of-way or facilities owned, leased, or maintained by any high-
speed railroad authority or operator, any commuter authority or 
operator, or any rail carrier, punitive damages shall not exceed the 
greater of--
            ``(A) $250,000; or
            ``(B) three times the amount of economic damages.
    ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term `claim' means a 
claim made, directly or indirectly--
            ``(A) against Amtrak, any high-speed railroad authority or 
        operator, any commuter authority or operator, or any rail 
        carrier; or
            ``(B) against an affiliate engaged in railroad operations, 
        officer, employee, or agent of, Amtrak, any high-speed railroad 
        authority or operator, any commuter authority or operator, or 
        any rail carrier.
    ``(b) Indemnification Obligations.--Obligations of any party, 
however arising, including obligations arising under leases or 
contracts or pursuant to orders of an administrative agency, to 
indemnify against damages or liability for personal injury, death, or 
damage to property described in subsection (a), incurred after the date 
of the enactment of the Amtrak Reform and Privatization Act of 1995, 
shall be enforceable, notwithstanding any other statutory or common law 
or public policy, or the nature or the conduct giving rise to the 
damages or liability.
    ``(c) Effect on Other Laws.--This section shall not affect the 
damages that may be recovered under the Act of April 27, 1908 (45 
U.S.C. 51 et seq.; popularly known as the `Federal Employers' Liability 
Act') or under any workers compensation act.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections of chapter 281 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new item:

``28103. Limitations on rail passenger transportation liability.''.
                       TITLE V--FINANCIAL REFORMS

SEC. 501. FINANCIAL POWERS.

    (a) Capitalization.--Section 24304 of title 49, United States Code, 
and the item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 243, 
are repealed.
    (b) Redemption of Common Stock.--(1) Amtrak shall, within 2 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, redeem all common stock 
previously issued, for the fair market value of such stock as of the 
day before the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (2) Section 28103 of title 49, United States Code, shall not apply 
to any rail carrier holding common stock of Amtrak after the expiration 
of 2 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (3) Amtrak may redeem any such common stock held after the 
expiration of the 2-month period described in paragraph (1), using 
procedures set forth in section 24311(a) and (b).
    (c) Surrender of Preferred Stock.--The Secretary of Transportation 
shall surrender all rights held in connection with the issuance of the 
preferred stock of Amtrak.
    (d) Note and Mortgage.--(1) Section 24907 of title 49, United 
States Code, and the item relating thereto in the table of sections of 
chapter 249 of such title, are repealed.
    (2) The United States hereby relinquishes all rights held in 
connection with any note obtained or mortgage made under such section 
24907, or in connection with the note, security agreement, and terms 
and conditions related thereto entered into with Amtrak dated October 
5, 1983.
    (3) This subsection and subsection (c) shall take effect 6 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (e) Status and Applicable Laws.--(1) Section 24301(a)(3) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``, and shall not be 
subject to title 31, United States Code'' after ``United States 
Government''.
    (2) Section 9101(2) of title 31, United States Code, relating to 
Government corporations, is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and 
redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (M) as subparagraphs (A) 
through (L), respectively.

SEC. 502. DISBURSEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

    Section 24104(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(d) Administration of Appropriations.--Funds appropriated 
pursuant to this section shall be provided to Amtrak upon appropriation 
when requested by Amtrak.''.

SEC. 503. BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

    (a) Repeal.--Section 24302 of title 49, United States Code, and the 
item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 243 of such 
title, are repealed.
    (b) No Change of Membership Required.--Nothing in subsection (a) 
shall be construed to require any change in the membership of the Board 
of Directors of Amtrak on the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 504. REPORTS AND AUDITS.

    Section 24315 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking subsections (a) and (c);
            (2) by redesignating subsections (b), (d), (e), (f), and 
        (g) as subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), respectively; 
        and
            (3) in subsection (d), as so redesignated by paragraph (2) 
        of this section, by striking ``(d) or (e)'' and inserting in 
        lieu thereof ``(b) or (c)''.

SEC. 505. OFFICERS' PAY.

    Section 24303(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the second sentence thereof.
SEC. 506. EXEMPTION FROM TAXES.

    Section 24301(l)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``, and any passenger or other customer of 
        Amtrak or such subsidiary,'' after ``subsidiary of Amtrak'';
            (2) by striking ``or fee imposed'' and all that follows 
        through ``levied on it'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``, fee, 
        head charge, or other charge, imposed or levied by a State, 
        political subdivision, or local taxing authority, directly or 
        indirectly on Amtrak or on persons traveling in intercity rail 
        passenger transportation or on mail or express transportation 
        provided by Amtrak or such a subsidiary, or on the carriage of 
        such persons, mail, or express, or on the sale of any such 
        transportation, or on the gross receipts derived therefrom''; 
        and
            (3) by striking the last sentence thereof.
                        TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 601. TEMPORARY RAIL ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    (a) Appointment.--Within 30 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, a Temporary Rail Advisory Council (in this section referred 
to as the ``Council'') shall be appointed under this section.
    (b) Duties.--The Council shall--
            (1) evaluate Amtrak's performance;
            (2) prepare an analysis and critique of Amtrak's business 
        plan;
            (3) suggest strategies for further cost containment and 
        productivity improvements, including strategies with the 
        potential for further reduction in Federal operating subsidies 
        and the eventual partial or complete privatization of Amtrak's 
        operations; and
            (4) recommend appropriate methods for adoption of uniform 
        cost and accounting procedures throughout the Amtrak system, 
        based on generally accepted accounting principles.
    (c) Membership.--(1) The Council shall consist of 7 members 
appointed as follows:
            (A) Two individuals to be appointed by the Speaker of the 
        House of Representatives, in consultation with the minority 
        leader of the House of Representatives.
            (B) Two individuals to be appointed by the majority leader 
        of the Senate, in consultation with the minority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (C) Two individuals appointed by the President.
            (D) One individual appointed by the Amtrak board of 
        directors.
    (2) Appointments under paragraph (1) shall be made from among 
individuals who--
            (A) have technical qualification, professional standing, 
        and demonstrated expertise in the fields of transportation and 
        corporate management; and
            (B) are not employees of Amtrak, employees of the United 
        States, or representatives of rail labor or rail management.
    (3) Within 40 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, a 
majority of the members of the Council shall elect a chairman from 
among such members.
    (d) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Council shall serve 
without pay, but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 
5, United States Code.
    (e) Administrative Support.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
provide to the Council such administrative support as the Council 
requires to carry out this section.
    (f) Access to Information.--Amtrak shall make available to the 
Council all information the Council requires to carry out this section. 
The Council shall establish appropriate procedures to ensure against 
the public disclosure of any information obtained under this subsection 
which is a trade secret or commercial or financial information that is 
privileged or confidential.
    (g) Reports.--(1) Within 120 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Council shall transmit to the Amtrak board of 
directors and the Congress an interim report on its findings and 
recommendations.
    (2) Within 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Council shall transmit to the Amtrak board of directors and the 
Congress a final report on its findings and recommendations.
    (h) Status.--The Council shall not be subject to the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) or section 552 of title 5, 
United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information 
Act).

SEC. 602. PRINCIPAL OFFICE AND PLACE OF BUSINESS.

    Section 24301(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking the first sentence;
            (2) by striking ``District of Columbia'' and inserting in 
        lieu thereof ``State in which its principal office and place of 
        business is located''; and
            (3) by inserting ``For purposes of this subsection, the 
        term `State' includes the District of Columbia.'' after ``in a 
        civil action.''.
SEC. 603. STATUS AND APPLICABLE LAWS.

    Section 24301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``rail carrier under 
        section 10102'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``railroad 
        carrier under section 20102(2) and chapters 261 and 281''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
    ``(c) Application of Subtitle IV.--Subtitle IV of this title shall 
not apply to Amtrak, except for sections 11303, 11342(a), 11504 (a) and 
(d), and 11707.''.

SEC. 604. WASTE DISPOSAL.

    Section 24301(m)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ``1996'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``2001''.

SEC. 605. ASSISTANCE FOR UPGRADING FACILITIES.

    Section 24310 of title 49, United States Code, and the item 
relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 243 of such title, 
are repealed.

SEC. 606. RAIL SAFETY SYSTEM PROGRAM.

    Section 24313 of title 49, United States Code, and the item 
relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 243 of such title, 
are repealed.

SEC. 607. DEMONSTRATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY.

    Section 24314 of title 49, United States Code, and the item 
relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 243 of such title, 
are repealed.

SEC. 608. PROGRAM MASTER PLAN FOR BOSTON-NEW YORK MAIN LINE.

    Section 24903 of title 49, United States Code, and the item 
relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 249 of such title, 
are repealed.

SEC. 609. BOSTON-NEW HAVEN ELECTRIFICATION PRO- JECT.

    Section 24902(f) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``Improvements under''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) Amtrak shall design and construct the electrification system 
between Boston, Massachusetts, and New Haven, Connecticut, to 
accommodate the installation of a third mainline track between 
Davisville and Central Falls, Rhode Island, to be used for double-stack 
freight service to and from the Port of Davisville. Wherever 
practicable, Amtrak shall use portal structures and realign existing 
tracks on undergrade and overgrade bridges to minimize the width of the 
right-of-way required to add the third track. Amtrak shall take such 
other steps as may be required to coordinate and facilitate design and 
construction work.''.

SEC. 610. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990.

    (a) Application to Amtrak.--Amtrak shall not be subject to any 
requirement under section 242(a) (1) and (3) and (e)(2) of the 
Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12162(a) (1) and (3) 
and (e)(2)) until October 15, 2001.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 24307 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (b); and
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).

SEC. 611. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 24102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (11);
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (8) as 
        paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (6), as so redesignated by 
        paragraph (2) of this section, the following new paragraph:
            ``(7) `rail passenger transportation' means the interstate, 
        intrastate, or international transportation of passengers by 
        rail;'';
            (4) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated by paragraph (2) 
        of this section, by inserting ``, including a unit of State or 
        local government,'' after ``means a person''; and
            (5) by redesignating paragraphs (9) and (10) as paragraphs 
        (8) and (9), respectively.

SEC. 612. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR COST DISPUTE.

    Section 1163 of the Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981 (45 U.S.C. 
1111) is repealed.

SEC. 613. INSPECTOR GENERAL ACT OF 1978 AMENDMENT.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 8G(a)(2) of the Inspector General Act of 
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking ``Amtrak,''.
    (b) Amtrak Not Federal Entity.--Amtrak shall not be considered a 
Federal entity for purposes of the Inspector General Act of 1978.

SEC. 614. CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION.

    Section 4023 of the Conrail Privatization Act (45 U.S.C. 1323), and 
the item relating thereto in the table of contents of such Act, are 
repealed.
SEC. 615. INTERSTATE RAIL COMPACTS.

    (a) Consent to Compacts.--Congress grants consent to States with an 
interest in a specific form, route, or corridor of intercity passenger 
rail service (including high speed rail service) to enter into 
interstate compacts to promote the provision of the service, 
including--
            (1) retaining an existing service or commencing a new 
        service;
            (2) assembling rights-of-way; and
            (3) performing capital improvements, including--
                    (A) the construction and rehabilitation of 
                maintenance facilities;
                    (B) the purchase of locomotives; and
                    (C) operational improvements, including 
                communications, signals, and other systems.
    (b) Financing.--An interstate compact established by States under 
subsection (a) may provide that, in order to carry out the compact, the 
States may--
            (1) accept contributions from a unit of State or local 
        government or a person;
            (2) use any Federal or State funds made available for 
        intercity passenger rail service (except funds made available 
        for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation);
            (3) on such terms and conditions as the States consider 
        advisable--
                    (A) borrow money on a short-term basis and issue 
                notes for the borrowing; and
                    (B) issue bonds; and
            (4) obtain financing by other means permitted under Federal 
        or State law.

               TITLE VII--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

SEC. 701. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 24104(a) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Transportation--
            ``(1) $772,000,000 for fiscal year 1995;
            ``(2) $712,000,000 for fiscal year 1996;
            ``(3) $712,000,000 for fiscal year 1997;
            ``(4) $712,000,000 for fiscal year 1998; and
            ``(5) $403,000,000 for fiscal year 1999,
for the benefit of Amtrak for capital expenditures under chapters 243 
and 247 of this title, operating expenses, and payments described in 
subsection (c)(1)(A) through (C).''.
    (b) Additional Authorizations.--Section 24104(b) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Additional Authorizations.--(1) In addition to amounts 
appropriated under subsection (a), there are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation--
            ``(A) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1995;
            ``(B) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1996;
            ``(C) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1997;
            ``(D) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1998; and
            ``(E) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1999,
for the benefit of Amtrak to make capital expenditures under chapter 
249 of this title.
    ``(2) In addition to amounts appropriated under subsection (a), 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Transportation--
            ``(A) $21,500,000 for fiscal year 1995;
            ``(B) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1996;
            ``(C) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1997;
            ``(D) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1998; and
            ``(E) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1999,
for the benefit of Amtrak to be used for engineering, design, and 
construction activities to enable the James A. Farley Post Office in 
New York, New York, to be used as a train station and commercial center 
and for necessary improvements and redevelopment of the existing 
Pennsylvania Station and associated service building in New York, New 
York.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 24909 of title 49, United 
States Code, and the item relating thereto in the table of sections of 
chapter 249 of such title, are repealed.
    (d) Guarantee of Obligations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation--
            (1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1996;
            (2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1997;
            (3) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1998; and
            (4) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1999,
for guaranteeing obligations of Amtrak under section 511 of the 
Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 
831).
    (e) Conditions for Guarantee of Obligations.--Section 511(i) of the 
Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 
831(i)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(4) The Secretary shall not require, as a condition for guarantee 
of an obligation under this section, that all preexisting secured 
obligations of an obligor be subordinated to the rights of the 
Secretary in the event of a default.''.
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