To authorize appropriations for the benefit of Amtrak for fiscal years 2004 through 2006, and for other purposes.

June 24, 2003

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska (for himself, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. QUINN, and Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

To authorize appropriations for the benefit of Amtrak for fiscal years 2004 through 2006, 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 Reauthorization Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

Section 24104 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

`Sec. 24104. Authorization of appropriations

`(a) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation $2,000,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2006, for the benefit of Amtrak for capital expenditures under chapters 243, 247, and 249 of this title, operating expenses, and payments described in subsection (b).

`(b) MANDATORY PAYMENTS-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Funds authorized under subsection (a) shall include--

`(A) an amount equal to the amount Amtrak is required to pay under section 3221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is more than the amount needed for anticipated benefits for individuals who retire from Amtrak and for their beneficiaries; and

`(B) amounts necessary to pay--

`(i) obligations of Amtrak under section 8(a) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 358(a)) due in those fiscal years that are more than obligations of Amtrak calculated on an experience-related basis; and

`(ii) obligations of Amtrak due under section 3321 of the Code (26 U.S.C. 3321).

`(2) REQUEST FOR TRANSFER OF FUNDS- The Secretary shall make payments to the Treasury of amounts authorized under paragraph (1) only after the Secretary has received from Amtrak a request for the transfer of such funds, which shall include materials supporting, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, the amount of the request.

`(c) CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS- From amounts appropriated pursuant to this section, the Secretary and the Amtrak Board of Directors shall ensure that sufficient funds are reserved to satisfy Amtrak's contractual obligations for commuter and State-supported passenger rail service.

`(d) ANNUAL BUSINESS PLAN AND SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS-

`(1) BUSINESS PLAN- Not later than September 15 of each of 2003, 2004, and 2005, Amtrak shall transmit to the Secretary and the Congress a comprehensive business plan for the subsequent fiscal year, including, as applicable, targets for ridership, revenues, and capital and operating expenses. The plan shall include the following:

`(A) A separate accounting of such targets for each of the following:

`(i) Northeast Corridor.

`(ii) Commuter service.

`(iii) Long-distance Amtrak service.

`(iv) State-supported service.

`(v) Commercial activities (including contract operations and mail and express).

The plan shall also include targets for each intercity train route, including Autotrain.

`(B) With respect to capital projects, a description of the work to be funded, a work timetable, cost estimates, and a list of other funding sources if the project is not entirely funded by the Federal Government.

`(2) SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS- Not later than October 1, 2003, and once each alternate month thereafter, Amtrak shall transmit to the Secretary and the Congress a supplemental report regarding the business plan transmitted under paragraph (1), which shall describe the work completed to date, any changes to the business plan, and the reasons for such changes.

`(e) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS AND EARLY APPROPRIATIONS- (1) Amounts appropriated under this section remain available until expended.

`(2) Amounts for capital acquisitions and improvements may be appropriated in a fiscal year before the fiscal year in which the amounts will be obligated.

`(f) LIMITATIONS ON USE- Amounts appropriated under this section may not be used to subsidize operating losses of commuter rail passenger or rail freight transportation.'.

END