[House Report 119-146]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 119-146
======================================================================
BABY CHANGING ON BOARD ACT
_______
June 6, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Graves, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 248]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 248) to require Amtrak to install
baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose of Legislation........................................... 1
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 2
Legislative History and Consideration............................ 2
Committee Votes.................................................. 2
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations................. 3
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................ 3
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................ 3
Performance Goals and Objectives................................. 4
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 4
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits....................................................... 4
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 4
Preemption Clarification......................................... 4
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 4
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 5
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 5
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 5
Purpose of Legislation
The purpose of H.R. 248 is to require Amtrak to install
baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars.
Background and Need for Legislation
In fiscal year 2024, Amtrak served nearly 32.8 million
riders to 500 destinations across 46 states. Parents and
families who are traveling often need to change a newborn
child's diaper, making accessible, safe, and comfortable
changing facilities at stations and onboard trains essential.
This bill would require all newly-acquired rail equipment to
provide baby changing stations in accessible bathrooms on
passenger rail cars and post adequate signage indicating the
availability of such baby changing stations.
Hearings
For the purposes of rule XIII, clause 3(c)(6)(A) of the
118th Congress the following hearing was used to develop or
consider H.R. 248:
On June 12, 2024, the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines,
and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled, ``Amtrak and
Intercity Passenger Rail Oversight: Promoting Performance,
Safety, and Accountability.'' The Subcommittee received
testimony from Anthony Coscia, Amtrak, Chair of the Board of
Directors; Stephen Gardner, Chief Executive Officer (CEO),
Amtrak; and, Julie White, Deputy Secretary for Multimodal
Transportation, North Carolina Department of Transportation.
This hearing focused on examining the current status of Amtrak,
the progress of Amtrak and certain states in implementing the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and examining current
and future issues in intercity passenger rail.
Legislative History and Consideration
H.R. 248, the ``Baby Changing on Board Act,'' was
introduced in the United States House of Representatives on
January 9, 2025, by Ms. Underwood of Illinois, with Mr. Van
Drew of New Jersey as an original cosponsor. The bill was also
cosponsored by Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Ms. Malliotakis
of New York, Ms. Hayes of Connecticut, Mr. Jackson of Illinois,
Mr. Lawler of New York, and Ms. Scanlon of Pennsylvania, and
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Within the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, H.R.
248 was referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines,
and Hazardous Materials. The Subcommittee on Railroads,
Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials was discharged from further
consideration of H.R. 248 on April 2, 2025.
The Committee considered H.R. 248 on April 2, 2025, and
ordered the measure to be favorably reported to the House,
without amendment, by voice vote.
Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires each committee report to include the
total number of votes cast for and against on each record vote
on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the
measure or matter, and the names of those members voting for
and against.
No recorded votes were requested for H.R. 248.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in this report.
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures
Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and
comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the
report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is
included in this report.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has
received the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 248 from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
H.R. 248 would require Amtrak to install baby changing
tables in at least one restroom per rail car on all passenger
trains purchased after enactment, including restrooms that are
subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (ADA), and to provide appropriate signage. The
requirement would not apply to trains that are operated, but
not owned, by Amtrak. Because Amtrak is considered a nonfederal
entity, CBO estimates that enacting the bill would have no
effect on the federal budget.
Amtrak's new passenger trains are being designed to include
baby changing stations in all onboard bathrooms, including
those that are ADA-compliant. By requiring Amtrak to comply
with additional signage requirements on all new passenger
trains they own, H.R. 248 would impose a private-sector mandate
as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). CBO
estimates that the cost would not exceed the threshold
established in UMRA for private-sector mandates ($203 million
in 2025, adjusted annually for inflation).
The bill would not impose an intergovernmental mandate as
defined in UMRA.
The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Willow Latham-
Proenca (for federal costs) and Brandon Lever (for mandates).
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy
Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director, Congressional Budget Office.
Performance Goals and Objectives
With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
performance goal and objective of this legislation is to
require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms
accessible to passengers with disabilities on passenger rail
cars.
Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision
of H.R. 248 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the
Federal government known to be duplicative of another Federal
program, a program that was included in any report from the
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance.
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits
In compliance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act (Public Law 104-4).
Preemption Clarification
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local,
or tribal law. The Committee finds that H.R. 248 does not
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the definition of Section
5(b) of Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. 1004(b)), United States
Code, are created by this legislation.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law
104-1).
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the ``Baby Changing on Board
Act''.
Section 2. Installation of baby changing tables on Amtrak trains
This section requires Amtrak to install baby changing
tables in all accessible bathrooms on passenger rail cars
purchased after the bill's enactment and mandates that each
accessible restroom has clear signage indicating the presence
of a baby changing table.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is
printed in italics and existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
SUBTITLE V--RAIL PROGRAMS
* * * * * * *
PART C--PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 243--AMTRAK
Sec.
* * * * * * *
24314. Baby changing tables.
* * * * * * *
Sec. 24314. Baby changing tables
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Ada-compliant restroom.--The term ``ADA-compliant
restroom'' means a restroom that complies with the
requirements set forth in section 242(a) of the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12162(a)).
(2) Baby changing table.--The term ``baby changing
table'' means an elevated, freestanding structure
generally designed to support and retain a child with a
body weight of up to 30 pounds in a horizontal position
for the purpose of allowing an individual to change the
child's diaper, including pull-out or drop-down
changing surfaces.
(3) Covered passenger rail train.--The term ``covered
passenger rail train''--
(A) means a passenger rail train that--
(i) is owned and operated by the
National Railroad Passenger Corporation
(commonly known as ``Amtrak''); and
(ii) was solicited for purchase after
the date of the enactment of the Baby
Changing on Board Act for use by
Amtrak; and
(B) does not include any passenger rail train
that Amtrak operates, but does not own.
(b) Baby Changing Tables.--
(1) In general.--All covered passenger rail trains
shall have a baby changing table in at least one
restroom in each car, including in an ADA-compliant
restroom.
(2) Signage.--Each restroom described in paragraph
(1) shall clearly indicate with signage the presence of
a baby changing table and such baby changing tables
shall be clearly identified with signage.
* * * * * * *
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