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Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation

3/31/2026



Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation

Bipartisan group urges Congress to fully fund Amtrak in FY27


The lawmakers want full funding at authorized levels for Amtrak and passenger rail in FY2027.
Photo – Shutterstock

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A bipartisan coalition of 116 U.S. House members are calling on Congress to provide full funding for Amtrak and passenger-rail programs at levels authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in fiscal-year 2027.

In a letter to House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Chairman Steve Womack (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member James Clyburn (D-S.C.), the lawmakers warn that failure to maintain funding at levels authorized in the IIJA will jeopardize ongoing repair and expansion projects and gut critical safety programs. Key authorizations in the IIJA are set to expire Sept. 30.

Specifically, the letter calls for Amtrak and rail programs to be funded at least to the levels authorized in the IIJA, including:
• $4.4 billion for Amtrak, including $1.4 billion for the Northeast Corridor and $3 billion for the national network;
• $1 billion for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program; 
• $50 million for the Restoration and Enhancement Grant program;
• $1.5 billion for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grants; and
• $500 million for the Railroad Crossing Elimination program.

“America was built on the rail lines that connected our communities, created good-paying jobs, and drove our economy forward, and we have a responsibility to keep that promise alive,” said U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) in a press release. “This goes beyond just funding trains. It's about reducing congestion on our highways, investing in thousands of good-paying jobs, and connecting rural towns to urban centers."

Moulton and the following U.S. representatives led the coalition in drafting the letter: Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.).



Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

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