HR 6248 United States House · 118th Congress

Think Differently Transportation Act

HR 6248, the "Think Differently Transportation Act," requires Amtrak to submit detailed annual reports to Congress about its compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Specifically, the bill mandates that Amtrak’s reports include an action plan to fix non-compliant rail cars and stations (per a 2020 Department of Justice settlement), plus a status update on all Amtrak-served stations. For each station, the report must clarify Amtrak’s responsibility level (sole, shared, or none), timelines for compliance, and the entity responsible for non-Amtrak portions. This bill directly affects Amtrak’s reporting obligations and Congress’s oversight of ADA accessibility in rail services.
Sub-Topics: Rail Tags: People with Disabilities
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2023
Committee Review
May 2024
House Passage
May 2024
Senate Passage
President
Introduced Nov 6, 2023 Last action May 22, 2024
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House Engrossed in House · 5 edits · May 21, 2024
MODERATE
The Engrossed version broadens the scope of the Amtrak ADA compliance reporting requirement from a single paragraph to an entire subsection, removes a conditional qualifier that made the action plan requirement optional, adds a new obligation to identify responsible parties and their compliance status at shared-responsibility stations, expands who may conduct station assessments beyond just Amtrak, and introduces a formal definition of 'station assessment' tied to Access Board standards.
SCOPE

The amendment target was expanded from Section 24315(b)(1) to Section 24315(b), meaning the changes now apply to the entire subsection rather than just one paragraph.

REQUIREMENT

The phrase 'as applicable' was removed from the requirement for Amtrak to include an action plan for bringing non-compliant rail cars and stations into compliance with the ADA, making the action plan mandatory rather than conditional.

For stations where Amtrak has shared responsibility for ADA compliance, the status report must now identify who is responsible for each portion and the compliance status of each responsible party, not just provide a timeline.

ELIGIBILITY

Station assessments may now be carried out by 'Amtrak or the party responsible under such Act,' broadening who can conduct the assessment beyond Amtrak alone.

DEFINITION

A new definition of 'station assessment' was added, specifying it means a review of all components of a station including the building, platform, path to train, and parking areas, as required by the Access Board on the date of enactment.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
4
Committee
6
Amendments
3
May 22, 2024
Committee
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
upper
May 21, 2024
Introduced
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3385-3386)
lower
May 21, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3385-3386)
lower
May 21, 2024
Introduced
Mr. Molinaro moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
lower
May 14, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 118-510.
lower
Jan 31, 2024
Introduced
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
lower
Jan 31, 2024
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
lower
Jan 31, 2024
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Discharged
lower
Nov 14, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
lower
Nov 6, 2023
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
lower
Nov 6, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 18 co-sponsors

Sponsors