Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act
Sponsored By: Senator Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced
Summary
Stops Amtrak from forcing customers into arbitration for consumer and civil-rights disputes. The bill would also ban clauses that block customers from joining class or collective actions and say courts, not arbitrators, decide if those clauses apply.
Show full summary
- Customers: People who use Amtrak would be able to bring consumer claims or civil-rights suits in court and seek class certification when appropriate.
- Amtrak: Amtrak could not rely on predispute arbitration agreements or predispute joint-action waivers to force these disputes into private arbitration.
- Legal scope and timing: The bill would define civil-rights disputes broadly to cover discrimination based on race, sex, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or national origin across areas like employment, housing, voting, health care, and public accommodations. It would exclude disputes covered by the Railway Labor Act and would take effect on enactment, applying to disputes that arise on or after that date.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Amtrak customers: no forced arbitration
If enacted, this bill would make predispute arbitration agreements and predispute joint-action waivers invalid for consumer and civil-rights disputes between Amtrak and its customers. Customers would be able to sue in court and join class, collective, or joint actions instead of being forced into arbitration. It would exclude disputes covered by the Railway Labor Act and would not apply to Amtrak employees. The change would take effect on the date of enactment and would apply to disputes that arise or accrue on or after that date.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov