THINK DIFFERENTLY TRANSPORTATION ACT

On 2024-12-17, Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10) delivered a floor speech titled "THINK DIFFERENTLY TRANSPORTATION ACT" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, foreign policy. It referenced legislation: S4107.

THINK DIFFERENTLY TRANSPORTATION ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 187 (Tuesday, December 17, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 187 (Tuesday, December 17, 2024)] [House] [Pages H7276-H7277] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] THINK DIFFERENTLY TRANSPORTATION ACT Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 4107) to require Amtrak to report to Congress information on Amtrak compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with respect to trains and stations. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 4107 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 ``Think Differently Transportation Act''. SEC. 2. REPORT ON AMTRAK ADA COMPLIANCE. Section 24315(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1)-- (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end; (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(D) shall include an action plan for bringing Amtrak- served stations that are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) into compliance with such Act, as required by the settlement agreement entered into in 2020 between Amtrak and the Department of Justice; ``(E) shall include a status report on-- ``(i) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is solely responsible for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act, as required by the settlement agreement; ``(ii) Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak has a shared responsibility for compliance with such Act based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak or by the party responsible for such compliance, including a timeline for any required compliance with such Act for the portions of the station for which Amtrak is the responsible party consistent with the terms of the settlement agreement, identifying who is responsible for compliance (and the status of the compliance of each responsible party with such Act) for such portions and the timeline for compliance in cases in which Amtrak is not the responsible party; and ``(iii) the status of compliance with such Act for all Amtrak-served stations for which Amtrak is not the responsible party, nor is responsible for a portion of the station, and identify the entity or entities that have responsibility for compliance with such Act, based on a station assessment carried out by Amtrak or the party responsible under such Act.''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(3) Amtrak may meet the requirements described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (1)(E) by demonstrating that Amtrak took reasonable measures to obtain cooperation from responsible entities. ``(4) Amtrak shall submit the action plan and status report required under subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph (1)-- ``(A) annually while the settlement agreement referred to in paragraph (1)(D) is in effect; and ``(B) every 5 years beginning on the first day the settlement is no longer in effect.''. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Edwards). Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Molinaro) and the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York. General Leave Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on S. 4107. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York? There was no objection. Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to stand again in support of my bill, the Think Differently Transportation Act, as it returns to the floor after minor amendments that were made in the Senate. After passing this bill today, the bill will head to the President's desk to be signed into law. This bill is one of several initiatives that passed the House to build off of the work I began as Dutchess County executive in New York State, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative. This was a call to action to create a supportive and welcoming environment for those living with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. The Think Differently Transportation Act does just that. The bill requires that Amtrak submit to Congress and the President an annual report with an expected timeline for bringing Amtrak trains and stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Amtrak stations and trains should be fully accessible to all Americans with disabilities and of every ability, and fully compliant, of course, with Federal law. Mr. Speaker, the ADA was passed in 1990 and established a 20-year timeframe for intercity rail stations to be accessible to those with disabilities. As of July 2023, sadly, Amtrak has only brought 30 percent of their 385 stations that they are responsible for into ADA compliance. Of course, this is unacceptable, and it is the reason that this bill is necessary. The Think Differently Transportation Act is strongly supported by Republicans and Democrats, and it allows Congress to have the appropriate oversight of Amtrak to ensure it complies with its obligations under the law. The bill is a big step forward that Congress can take to address accessibility barriers to traveling by rail. I certainly thank Senator Duckworth for taking up the bill and her support in the Senate and, of course, working to ensure its adoption there. Mr. Speaker, I urge strong support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the Think Differently Transportation Act, a bipartisan bill that will advance accessibility to Amtrak-served stations. Amtrak received $22 billion in the bipartisan infrastructure law, or BIL, to buy new equipment, invest in station accessibility, and reduce the backlog of capital projects and operating needs. In the BIL, Congress directed Amtrak to make all of the stations that Amtrak serves accessible. The Think Differently Transportation Act, as led by Senator Tammy Duckworth and passed by the Senate, will require Amtrak to report annually to Congress on the accessibility status for all of the more than 500 stations Amtrak serves, not just the ones where it has the responsibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Thanks to the BIL, Amtrak is investing in new equipment and upgrading stations. We need assurances that these investments are taking into account people with disabilities, as required under the ADA. This bill helps to do just that. This bill differs slightly from the House companion version of the Think Differently Transportation Act, sponsored by Representative Molinaro, which I am proud to cosponsor and that the House has previously passed. This version included a requirement that Amtrak report on accessibility of its railcars in addition to stations. While that requirement has been left out of this version, we are hopeful that Amtrak will also include these updates on how their equipment is and will be accessible to people with all types of disabilities. My friend, the late Representative Donald Payne, Jr., whose 66th birthday would have been today, cosponsored and helped write the House companion version of the Think Differently Transportation Act, and I am pleased that this bill, soon to become law, will be part of his legacy. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 4107, the Think Differently Transportation Act, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Molinaro, as well, and I think of Don Payne at this moment. I am pleased to support the Think Differently Transportation Act, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, first, let me extend my appreciation to my colleague for his support and cosponsorship of the legislation. I, too, wish to extend our prayers and love to the family of Donald Payne, but I also am grateful for Representative Payne's leadership on this very issue. [[Page H7277]] As I mentioned, this is an important opportunity for the disability community to ensure that the barriers that they face to accessing Amtrak trains and stations are taken down. When I first came to Congress, I actually couldn't believe that Amtrak hadn't adequately met the ADA requirements as Congress had previously mandated, and so we immediately got to work on this very piece of legislation. It is certainly gratifying to see the bill now about to become law because it addresses injustices for those with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities when they travel by train. As this might be one of the last times I speak before the House, Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my appreciation to Members on both sides of the aisle. There are so many individuals with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities, like my very own daughter, who have yet to have been granted full access to the quality of life that so many others get to enjoy. If Congress can continue to take incremental and, in some cases, bold steps to break down barriers and create opportunities for those of every ability, we can truly ensure that the rights, privileges, and opportunities that are granted and protected by this House, our Constitution, and this very government are extended to those too often overlooked. Those li

Referenced legislation: S4107, S4107