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S. 71 To require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars.
Summary
The bill requires baby changing tables to be installed in passenger rail cars operated by Amtrak and other intercity passenger rail services that receive federal financial assistance. The requirement applies to newly built rail cars purchased after the bill's enactment and mandates at least one baby changing table per car, including in any ADA-compliant public restrooms. Baby changing tables must be clearly identified with signage, and restrooms containing them must also display signage indicating their presence. The requirement does not apply to private rail cars or historical or antiquated rail cars.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT)
1 cosponsor
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Peter Welch’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $8,600
- THE OLD MOUNTAIN COMPANY, INC. $3,300
- WEST FRONT STRATEGIES $2,500
- UCAR $2,300
- MINILEC SERVICE $2,000
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Peter Welch → · Outside spending →
Actions (10)
- May 12, 2026 Held at the desk. · house
- May 12, 2026 Received in the House. · house
- May 12, 2026 Message on Senate action sent to the House. · senate
- May 11, 2026 Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2204; text: CR S2204) · senate
- May 11, 2026 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Apr 22, 2026 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 378. · senate
- Apr 22, 2026 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-118. · senate
- Feb 12, 2026 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. · senate
- Jan 13, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. · senate
- Jan 13, 2025 Introduced in Senate
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Committee action
What happened to this bill in committee — the meetings where it was considered and every recorded vote taken on it.
Meetings where this bill was on the agenda
- Business meeting to consider S.71, to require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars, S.1898, to establish a demonstration program for the active remediation of orbital debris and to require the development of uniform orbital debris standard practices in order to support a safe and sustainable orbital environment, S.2585, to modernize and improve the Broadband Funding Map in order to promote the most efficient use of Federal funds for broadband deployment, S.3199, to establish a multi-stakeholder advisory committee tasked with providing detailed recommendations to address challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, S.3266, to support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, S.3468, to establish a national programmable cloud laboratories network to enhance research efficiency, innovation, and collaboration, S.3639, to expedite processing of satellite and space licenses, S.3700, to establish an expert review panel to make recommendations for a comprehensive agency-wide safety management system at the FAA, and routine lists in the Coast Guard; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine the NTSB final report on the DCA midair collision.
- Business meeting to consider S.71, to require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars, S.1898, to establish a demonstration program for the active remediation of orbital debris and to require the development of uniform orbital debris standard practices in order to support a safe and sustainable orbital environment, S.2585, to modernize and improve the Broadband Funding Map in order to promote the most efficient use of Federal funds for broadband deployment, S.3199, to establish a multi-stakeholder advisory committee tasked with providing detailed recommendations to address challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, S.3266, to support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, S.3468, to establish a national programmable cloud laboratories network to enhance research efficiency, innovation, and collaboration, S.3639, to expedite processing of satellite and space licenses, S.3700, to establish an expert review panel to make recommendations for a comprehensive agency-wide safety management system at the FAA, and the nominations of Daniel Edwards, of North Carolina, to be an Assistant Secretary, and Ryan McCormack, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary for Policy, both of the Department of Transportation, Steven Haines, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Robert Harvey, of Florida, to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner, and John DeLeeuw, of Texas, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 13, 2025
Mr. Welch (for himself and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
April 22, 2026
Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
A BILL
To require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars.
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 “Baby Changing on Board Act”.
SEC. 2. INSTALLATION OF BABY CHANGING TABLES ON AMTRAK TRAINS.
(a) In General.—Chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 24313 the following: “Sec. 24314. Baby changing tables “(a) Definitions.—In this section: “(1) ADA-compliant restroom.—The term ‘ADA- compliant restroom’ means a restroom that complies with the requirements set forth in section 242(a) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12162(a)). “(2) Baby changing table.—The term ‘baby changing table’ means an elevated, freestanding structure generally designed to support and retain a child with a body weight of up to 30 pounds in a horizontal position for the purpose of allowing an individual to change the child’s diaper, including pull-out or drop-down changing surfaces. “(3) Covered passenger rail train.—The term ‘covered passenger rail train’— “(A) means a passenger rail train that— “(i) is owned and operated by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (commonly known as ‘Amtrak’); and “(ii) was solicited for purchase after the date of the enactment of the Baby Changing on Board Act for use by Amtrak; and “(B) does not include any passenger rail train that Amtrak operates, but does not own. “(b) Baby Changing Tables.— “(1) In general.—All covered passenger rail trains shall have a baby changing table in at least one restroom in each rail car, including in an ADA-compliant restroom. “(2) Signage.—Such restroom shall clearly indicate with signage the presence of a baby changing table and such baby changing tables shall be clearly identified with signage.”. (b) Clerical Amendment.—The chapter analysis for chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 24313 the following:
“24314. Baby changing tables.”.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Baby Changing on Board Act”.
SEC. 2. INSTALLATION OF BABY CHANGING TABLES ON AMTRAK TRAINS.
(a) In General.—Chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 24313 the following: “Sec. 24314. Baby changing tables
“(a) Definitions.—In this section:
“(1) ADA-compliant public restroom.—The term ‘ADA- compliant public restroom’ means a restroom that is not in a private accommodation and complies with the requirements set forth in section 242(a) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12162(a)).
“(2) Baby changing table.—The term ‘baby changing table’ means an elevated structure generally designed to support and retain a child with a body weight of up to 30 pounds in a horizontal position for the purpose of allowing an individual to change the child’s diaper, including pull-out or drop-down changing surfaces.
“(3) Covered passenger rail car.—The term ‘covered passenger rail car’—
“(A) means a passenger rail car that—
“(i) is owned and operated by—
“(I) the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (commonly known as ‘Amtrak’); or
“(II) another intercity passenger rail service provider that— “(aa) is the recipient or subrecipient of Federal financial assistance; or “(bb) is a primary beneficiary of Federal financial assistance from a project for which another entity has received Federal financial assistance;
“(ii) is newly built and was solicited for purchase after the date of the enactment of the Baby Changing on Board Act; and
“(iii) has at least one restroom that is not in a private accommodation; and
“(B) does not include—
“(i) a private rail car; or
“(ii) a historical or antiquated rail passenger car (as defined in section 304(c)(2) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12184(c)(2))).
“(4) Private rail car.—The term ‘private rail car’ means rail rolling equipment that is used only for excursion, recreational, or private transportation purposes.
“(b) Baby Changing Tables.—
“(1) In general.—All covered passenger rail cars shall have a baby changing table in at least one restroom, and when an ADA-compliant public restroom is present in the covered passenger car, such restroom shall have a baby changing table.
“(2) Signage.—Each restroom described in paragraph (1) shall clearly indicate with signage the presence of a baby changing table and such baby changing tables shall be clearly identified with signage.”.
(b) Clerical Amendment.—The chapter analysis for chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 24313 the following:
“24314. Baby changing tables.”. Calendar No. 378
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 71
[Report No. 119-118]
A BILL
To require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars.
April 22, 2026
Reported with an amendment
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