Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB192

Introduced
1/3/25  
Refer
1/3/25  
Refer
1/4/25  

Caption

Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure ActThis bill requires Amtrak to publicly disclose the annual base pay and bonus compensation paid to an Amtrak executive in a required annual report to Congress.Specifically, Amtrak must incorporate into the annual report the annual base pay and any bonus compensation paid to a member of the executive leadership team. This must include the criteria and metrics used to determine any bonus compensation.Further, Amtrak must make the annual report available on Amtrak's public website.

Impact

If enacted, HB192 will amend Title 49 of the United States Code, specifically section 24315(a), under which Amtrak is required to submit reports and audits. This amendment will require Amtrak to make their compensation reports available on their website, thus allowing for greater scrutiny by the public and stakeholders. The focus on executive pay transparency aligns with broader efforts in various sectors to hold organizations accountable for executive compensation practices, particularly those that involve public funding.

Summary

House Bill 192, known as the Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act, aims to enhance transparency regarding executive compensation at Amtrak. The bill mandates that Amtrak publicly disclose the base pay and bonus compensation of its executive leadership team, including the criteria used to determine any bonuses. This move is intended to provide the public and Congress with clear insights into how Amtrak compensates its top executives, thereby fostering accountability in how federal funds are managed by the railroad service.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB192 appears to be generally positive among advocates for transparency and accountability, who view the bill as a necessary step in ensuring that public agencies like Amtrak are responsible stewards of taxpayer resources. However, there may be some contention among those who believe that disclosing such information could undermine executive privacy or deter capable leadership from joining Amtrak due to public scrutiny.

Contention

Notable points of contention may include debates around the balance between transparency and privacy. Some lawmakers and stakeholders might argue that revealing detailed compensation structures could lead to unnecessary pressure on executives, thereby hindering the ability to attract and retain top talent. The discussions could also center on the efficacy of such measures in improving Amtrak's operational accountability and addressing ongoing operational challenges faced by the agency.

Congress_id

119-HR-192

Policy_area

Transportation and Public Works

Introduced_date

2025-01-03

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HB8689

Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act

US SB4492

Amtrak Transparency Act

US HB8692

Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act

US SB5508

A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to annually submit to Congress, and make publicly available on a website, a report on decommissioning offshore oil and gas wells, platforms, and pipelines.

US HB324

Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act This bill extends the $1 million limit on the deductibility of executive compensation to all employees of publicly traded corporations.

US HB10382

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.

US HB280

Cyber Vulnerability Disclosure Reporting Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to submit a report describing the policies and procedures developed to coordinate the disclosure of cyber vulnerabilities. The report shall describe instances when these policies and procedures were used to disclose cyber vulnerabilities in the previous year. Further, the report shall mention the degree to which the disclosed information was acted upon by stakeholders.

US SB17

Sunlight for Unaccountable Non-profits (SUN) Act This bill expands the disclosure requirements for certain tax-exempt organizations. This bill requires the annual tax return information for tax-exempt organizations and deferred compensation plans to be made available to the public at no charge and in an open structured data format that is processable by computers, with the information easy to find, access, reuse, and download in bulk. The bill also requires the disclosure of the names and addresses of contributors of $5,000 or more to tax-exempt organizations that participate or intervene in political campaigns on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.

US HB10474

To require an annual report on the costs to the Department of State associated with producing required reports, and for other purposes.

US HB499

Securing American Families and Enterprises from People's Republic of China Investments Act or the SAFE from PRC Investments Act This bill requires certain issuers of securities and funds traded on an exchange to report on connections to China or the Communist Party of China. In particular, an issuer with specified connections to China must annually disclose a variety of details, including whether executive-level employees, senior directors, or board members are members of the Communist Party of China; interactions with the party; expenditures in China; expenditures in the United States regarding operations and lobbying activities; and the ability of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to audit the issuer. Additionally, an exchange-traded fund that invests in a Chinese company must annually disclose about that company ownership information, party involvement, whether the company participates in specified Chinese policies or activities, any ties to U.S.-sanctioned individuals, and the types of products or services produced by the company.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.