“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.”
Expand passenger rail by allowing Amtrak to use its annual federal subsidy funding to cover nonfederal matching requirements for federal grant applications.
Occurrences
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.
Evidence
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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GovInfo's Congressional Record Index entry for the Amtrak Grant Flexibility Act identifies it in the 119th Congress, 2nd Session as Congressional Bill H.R. 8853. The linked text entry lists: Bills and resolutions: Enact (see H.R. 8853), H3550 [15MY].
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The preliminary U.S. Code text for 49 U.S.C. 24911 says the Federal share generally may not exceed 80 percent and that, if Amtrak is an applicant, Amtrak may use ticket and other revenues generated from operations and other sources to satisfy non-Federal share requirements.
Assessments
McClellan materially pursued the promise by sponsoring the Amtrak Grant Flexibility Act in both the 118th Congress as H.R. 10382 and the 119th Congress as H.R. 8853, matching the promised policy. However, the current record shows the bill only introduced and referred to committee, with no enactment. Current 49 U.S.C. match provisions still allow Amtrak to use ticket and other operating revenues, not annual federal subsidy funding, for nonfederal shares. The promised statutory change therefore has not been delivered, but the serious legislative effort merits the effort badge.
McClellan materially advanced the promised policy by sponsoring H.R. 8853 in 2026 and a substantially similar H.R. 10382 in the prior Congress. However, the promised outcome requires the authority to become law, and the available evidence shows both bills only reached introduction/referral while current law still does not allow Amtrak annual federal subsidy grants to satisfy these nonfederal match requirements. This is a serious legislative effort but not fulfillment.