2026 Legislative Resources

Rail Passengers Association Fiscal Year 2027 Legislative Grant Request

Rail Passengers Association's annual legislative grant request for Amtrak and passenger rail, providing an overview of the programmatic funding requests and specific policies and legislation that Rail Passengers is advocating for in the coming year.

Congressional committees are currently drafting the bill that will succeed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), a historic piece of legislation that sought to close the investment gap for America's passenger rail system. Until this the new law is enacted, Rail Passengers believes it is critical for Congressional appropriators to continue supporting these programs

Read Rail Passengers' President & CEO Jim Mathews' letter to the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, House and Urban Development leadership.

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Rail Passengers Association Surface Transportation Reauthorization Blueprint

As Congress prepares to develop legislation that will succeed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Rail Passengers Association has assembled a list of programs, policy reforms, funding proposals that we believe will speed project delivery, support State- and private sector-led corridor develeopment, and strengthen Amtrak's network nationwide.

Read our 2026 Rail Reauthorization Blueprint one-pager.

You can also check out the full version of our 2026 Rail Reauthorization Blueprint, which includes draft legislative language.

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Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Already Advancing Critical Projects

Increased infrastructure investment provided in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—in combination with annual appropriations approved by Congress—is already resulting in tangible improvements to the U.S. rail network and national rail fleet. The IIJA has already invested $53 billion across 594 projects that will improve rail safety and expand passenger rail travel in 48 states.

Rail Passengers has assembled a list of select passenger rail projects and corridors that are already seeing work funded by IIJA rail programs.

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2026 Issue One-Pagers

Economic Benefits: A Connected America is not only good for passengers but good for America’s cities and towns, an economic engine in the communities it serves.

Environmental Benefits: Modern passenger rail can carry large numbers of people further, faster, and more efficiently than ever before.

FAQ: Privatization and Profitability in Passenger Rail: Responding to common myths and misconceptions about subsidies and privatization across the U.S. transportation system.