HR-248-119
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sponsored by Lauren Underwood (D-IL)
What it does
This bill would require Amtrak to install a baby changing table in at least one restroom per car on its passenger rail trains, including in ADA-compliant restrooms. The requirement would apply to trains owned and operated by Amtrak, and to any new trains solicited for purchase after the bill's enactment — meaning it would not retroactively mandate immediate retrofitting of all existing equipment.
Who benefits
Parents and caregivers traveling with infants or young children on Amtrak trains. Travelers with disabilities who use ADA-compliant restrooms and would now have access to changing facilities in those spaces. Families who currently avoid rail travel due to inadequate infant care facilities. Amtrak riders broadly, as improved amenities may increase ridership. Baby product manufacturers who supply changing table equipment.
Who is hurt
Amtrak, which would bear the cost of retrofitting existing train cars and incorporating changing tables into newly purchased equipment. Taxpayers who fund Amtrak subsidies, as compliance costs could increase federal appropriations needs. Passengers in restrooms where space is reallocated for changing tables, as already-limited restroom space on rail cars may be further reduced. Train manufacturers responding to new solicitations, who may face design and cost constraints.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that the absence of baby changing facilities on Amtrak trains forces parents — disproportionately mothers — to change infants on seats or floors, creating unsanitary and undignified conditions. They contend that the bill's phased approach, applying the mandate to newly solicited trains rather than requiring immediate retrofitting of all existing cars, makes compliance practical and cost-effective. They also argue that including ADA-compliant restrooms ensures that disabled parents are not excluded from this basic accommodation.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that Amtrak already operates under significant financial constraints and relies heavily on federal subsidies, meaning compliance costs — however modest per car — ultimately fall on taxpayers. They contend that mandating specific amenity configurations in rail cars is a design and operational decision better left to Amtrak's management rather than Congress, and that the bill sets a precedent for legislating granular facility requirements that could complicate future train procurement and design flexibility.