Expand passenger rail by allowing Amtrak to use its annual federal subsidy funding to cover nonfederal matching requirements for federal grant applications.

“Expanding passenger rail must remain a priority, and Amtrak deserves every tool at its disposal to do so. My bill makes a minor procedural adjustment that opens the door to billions of dollars in new funding to prevent the stagnation and degradation of our rail system, and instead strengthen it for years to come.”

McClellan introduced the Amtrak Grant Flexibility Act and committed to expanding passenger rail by giving Amtrak more flexibility to access federal grant funding.

McClellan, Deluzio Introduce Bill to Boost Amtrak Funding and Strengthen Transportation Infrastructure | Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.5

McClellan and Rep. Chris Deluzio introduced H.R. 8853 to expand grant funding opportunities for Amtrak. The bill, the Amtrak Grant Flexibility Act, would make it easier for Amtrak to complete future projects, cut down on completion timelines, and improve passenger rail for the millions who rely on it each year.

McClellan co-introduced the Amtrak Grant Flexibility Act, which would let Amtrak use its annual federal subsidy for nonfederal grant matching requirements to unlock funding and speed passenger rail projects.

McClellan, Deluzio Introduce Bill to Boost Amtrak Funding and Strengthen Transportation Infrastructure
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.5

5/15/2026 | H.R. 8853 | To amend title 49, United States Code, to allow Amtrak to use grant funds to satisfy non-Federal share requirements of certain grant programs, and for other purposes. Sponsor Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]. Latest Action May 15, 2026 - Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Within the May 6-June 4 lookback window, McClellan sponsored H.R. 8853, which matches the promised Amtrak grant-match policy, but the official House record shows only introduction and committee referral, not enactment.

unresolved same_term A for effort

House FloorCast - H.R. 8853
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 94%

H.R.10382 was sponsored by Rep. McClellan and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill text would allow Amtrak to use Federal grant funds provided to Amtrak and would let Amtrak satisfy non-Federal share requirements using National Network or Northeast Corridor grant funds.

McClellan previously introduced substantially the same proposal in the 118th Congress, showing concrete effort, but Congress.gov listed the bill only as introduced and referred.

unresolved unknown A for effort

Text - H.R.10382 - 118th Congress
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 91%

Amtrak requested language to allow FY 26 annual grant dollars to count toward the non-Federal cost share for Federal-State Partnership funding, stating that under current statute Amtrak is unable to use NEC and National Network annual grant funding to satisfy those match requirements.

Amtrak's FY2026 official request confirms that the annual-grant match authority remained unavailable under current law and was still being sought.

unresolved unknown

Amtrak Fiscal Year 2026 Grant and Legislative Request
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 90%

Section 24911(f) provides that the Federal share generally may not exceed 80 percent and says: if Amtrak is an applicant, Amtrak may use ticket and other revenues generated from operations and other sources to satisfy the non-Federal share requirements.

Current U.S. Code permits Amtrak to use ticket and other revenues for Federal-State Partnership matching funds, but not its annual federal subsidy grants, so the promised change has not been enacted in this section.

unresolved unknown

49 U.S.C. 24911 - Federal-State partnership for intercity passenger rail
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 88%

Section 22907 provides that the Federal share of total project costs generally may not exceed 80 percent and that Amtrak or another rail carrier may use ticket and other revenues generated from operations and other sources to satisfy non-Federal share requirements.

The CRISI grant statute still relies on ticket and other operating revenues for Amtrak match eligibility, not annual federal subsidy funding, supporting that the broader promised policy remains unresolved.

unresolved unknown

49 U.S.C. 22907 - Consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 86%