The Train FOOD Act would require Amtrak to (1) publish an annual status report on how it is implementing recommendations from the Amtrak Food and Beverage Working Group, and (2) create an internal Implementation Advisory Committee to review progress. The advisory committee would include representatives from Amtrak, labor unions for onboard food/beverage staff, nonprofit groups representing passengers, and states that fund state-supported routes. The bill also mandates a GAO (government accountability) review within two years describing progress on implementing the recommendations. The annual reports would be posted publicly on Amtrak’s website and submitted to Congress, detailing progress, completed items, items deemed impractical or impossible (with justification and, if funding is lacking, an estimated cost to implement), changes to food and beverage service since enactment, and comments from the advisory committee. Overall, the act increases congressional oversight and public transparency over Amtrak’s efforts to improve onboard dining experiences.
Key Points
- 1Establishes an Implementation Advisory Committee within one year to internally review Amtrak’s progress on Food and Beverage Working Group recommendations, with members from Amtrak, labor unions for onboard dining staff, passenger advocacy groups, and states funding routes.
- 2Requires annual implementation status reports to Congress and to be publicly posted on Amtrak’s website, starting one year after enactment and continuing until all recommendations are either implemented or deemed impractical/impossible.
- 3Reports must detail progress, completed recommendations, those deemed impractical/impossible (with justification and, if funding limits exist, estimated costs to implement), changes to dining service since enactment and since the previous report, and advisory committee comments.
- 4Defines the act’s short title as the Train Furtherance of Outstanding Onboard Dining Act (Train FOOD Act).
- 5Adds a GAO review due within two years assessing Amtrak’s progress on implementing the recommendations.