Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2005

Summary

Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2005 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2011 for: (1) Amtrak capital and operating grants, including state capital grants; (2) the Federal Railroad Administration; (3) Amtrak repayment of long-term debt and capital leases; (4) excess Amtrak railroad retirement payments to the Railroad Retirement Account; (5) the rail cooperative research program; and (6) grants to Amtrak and states participating in the Next Generation Corridor Train Equipment Pool Committee. Amends federal transportation law to make certain Amtrak reforms and operational improvements, including: (1) state funding of Amtrak rail routes; (2) establishment of improved financial accounting system; (3) development of a five-year financial plan; (4) improvement of passenger train performance; (5) establishment of an alternative passenger rail service program; (6) employee transition assistance; and (7) development of a Northeast Corridor state-of-good-repair plan. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to an applicant state, Interstate Compact, or public agency to assist in financing the capital costs of facilities and equipment necessary to provide intercity passenger rail transportation. Establishes: (1) a Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee; and (2) a rail cooperative research program. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to Amtrak for certain systemwide security upgrades. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to Amtrak for fire and life-safety improvements and infrastructure upgrades to tunnels on the Northeast Corridor. Directs Amtrak to submit to the National Transportation Safety Board a plan to address the needs of families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to report to Congress an assessment of the current system for preclearance and screening of rail and airline passengers and baggage, as well as freight railroad traffic, between the United States and Canada. Allows a tax credit to holders of rail infrastructure (intercity rail facility) bonds issued by a state, interstate compact, or Amtrak to finance or refinance certain rail improvement projects.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 27 July 2005

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 27 July 2005

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 28 July 2005

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

4. 18 October 2005

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 235.

   Source: Calendars

5. 18 October 2005

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Stevens with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 109-143.

   Source: Committee

6. 18 October 2005

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Stevens with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 109-143.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Reported to Senate · 18 October 2005 · Official file
• Introduced in Senate · 27 July 2005 · Official file

Documents

6 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 18 October 2005

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 18 October 2005

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 18 October 2005

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 27 July 2005

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 27 July 2005

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 27 July 2005

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Lott, Trent [R-MS-5] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. DeWine, Mike [R-OH-7] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME-2] · R · Cosponsor
• Susan Collins · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Jeffords, James M. [R-VT-At Large] · I · Cosponsor
• Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR] · R · Cosponsor
• Richard Durbin · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Chafee, Lincoln [R-RI] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE] · D · Cosponsor
• Charles Schumer · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
• · sscm00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2005