Congress · Laws

Amtrak Improvement Act of 1973

Public Law 93-146 · S. 2016 · 93rd Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Nov 3, 1973 · Transportation and Public Works

Sponsor: Sen. Warren Magnuson (D-WA)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 346 yea, 51 nay346–51
SenateMethod not stated

Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Amtrak Improvement Act - Directs the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, under the Rail Passenger Service Act, to establish an auto-ferry service, characterized by the carriage of automobiles and their occupants.

Provides that the Corporation shall insure that no elderly or handicapped person is denied intercity transportation by: (1) acquiring special equipment; (2) eliminating architectural barriers; and (3) providing special assistance while boarding and alighting in terminal areas.

Authorizes the Corporation to acquire property which is required for construction of facilities for intercity rail passenger service. Sets forth the procedure for exercising such eminent domain proceedings.

Authorizes the Corporation to: (1) establish improved reservations systems and advertising; (2) service railroad passenger equipment; (3) conduct research in rail passenger services; (4) develop improved rolling stock; (5) establish essential fixed facilities; (6) purchase or lease railroad rolling stock; and (7) operate international intercity rail passenger service between points within the United States, Canada (including Montreal and Vancouver) and Mexico (including Neuvo Laredo).

Provides that the Corporation is not subject to any State or local law interfering with its efficient provisions of mail, express, or auto-ferry service.

Stipulates that if the Corporation and a railroad or agency are unable to agree on the terms for sale of property to the Corporation, the Corporation may apply to the Interstate Commerce Commission for an order establishing the Corporation's need for such property and directing its conveyance, with just compensation.

Directs the Corporation to initiate not less than one experimental route each year, to be operated for not less than two years.

Authorizes appropriations for payment to the Corporation.

Empowers the Commission to promulgate such regulations as necessary to provide adequate intercity rail passenger service. Provides penalties for violation of any such regulations.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 93rd Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 346 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

346 yea51 nay43 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(197)

Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-7
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-8
Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-9
Rep. John MossD-CA-3
Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
Rep. Bella AbzugD-NY-20
Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-30
Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-5
Rep. Herman BadilloD-NY-21
Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-21
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
Rep. Jerome WaldieD-CA-14
Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
Rep. Andrew YoungD-GA-5
Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
Rep. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-37
Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-35
Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
Rep. George BrownD-CA-38
Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
Rep. Bertram PodellD-NY-13
Rep. William BarrettD-PA-1
Rep. John DentD-PA-21
Rep. Henry HelstoskiD-NJ-9
Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
Rep. James CormanD-CA-22
Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-29
Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
Rep. Robert TiernanD-RI-2
Rep. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
Rep. Brock AdamsD-WA-7
Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
Rep. Julia HansenD-WA-3
Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
Rep. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
Rep. Spark MatsunagaD-HI-1
Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Thomas ReesD-CA-26
Rep. Chester HolifieldD-CA-19
Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
Rep. John MelcherD-MT-2
Rep. John BlatnikD-MN-8
Rep. William GreenD-PA-3
Rep. Frank BrascoD-NY-11
Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
Rep. Richard HannaD-CA-34
Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Douglas OwensD-UT-2
Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-2
Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
Rep. Ogden ReidD-NY-24
Rep. Ray MaddenD-IN-1
Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
Rep. John McFallD-CA-15
Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
Rep. Edward MezvinskyD-IA-1
Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
Rep. Joseph EvinsD-TN-4
Rep. Peter KyrosD-ME-1
Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
Rep. Leonor SullivanD-MO-3
Rep. Robert BerglandD-MN-7
Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-16
Rep. Joseph KarthD-MN-4
Rep. John KluczynskiD-IL-5
Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
Rep. Hugh CareyD-NY-15
Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
Rep. Harold DonohueD-MA-3
Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-41
Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
Rep. Joseph VigoritoD-PA-24
Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Torbert MacdonaldD-MA-7
Rep. Robert JonesD-AL-5
Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. James SymingtonD-MO-2
Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
Rep. Ella GrassoD-CT-6
Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
Rep. Jerry LittonD-MO-6
Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
Rep. Clem McSpaddenD-OK-2
Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
Rep. William RandallD-MO-4
Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
Rep. Williamson StuckeyD-GA-8
Rep. William RoyD-KS-2
Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
Rep. Frank StubblefieldD-KY-1
Rep. Thaddeus DulskiD-NY-37
Rep. Robert StephensD-GA-10
Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
Rep. Olin TeagueD-TX-6
Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. James StantonD-OH-20
Rep. Robert CaseyD-TX-22
Rep. David HendersonD-NC-3
Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
Rep. Bill GunterD-FL-5
Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
Rep. Thomas GettysD-SC-5
Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
Rep. Otto PassmanD-LA-5
Rep. Roy TaylorD-NC-11
Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
Rep. Edith GreenD-OR-3
Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
Rep. Thomas DowningD-VA-1
Rep. James MannD-SC-4
Rep. Dale MilfordD-TX-24
Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
Rep. James HaleyD-FL-8
Rep. Ovie FisherD-TX-21
Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
Rep. John JarmanD-OK-5

Republicans who voted yea(148)

Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
Rep. Robert SteeleR-CT-2
Rep. Peter PeyserR-NY-23
Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
Rep. Edward BiesterR-PA-8
Rep. Paul CroninR-MA-5
Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-17
Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
Rep. William WidnallR-NJ-7
Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
Rep. Wendell WyattR-OR-1
Rep. Bob MathiasR-CA-18
Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
Rep. Marvin EschR-MI-2
Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
Rep. Henry HeinzR-PA-18
Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-1
Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
Rep. Donald BrotzmanR-CO-2
Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
Rep. William MailliardR-CA-6
Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
Rep. Pierre du PontR-DE
Rep. Joseph MarazitiR-NJ-13
Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
Rep. Lawrence WilliamsR-PA-7
Rep. Angelo RoncalloR-NY-3
Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
Rep. Jerry PettisR-CA-33
Rep. Vernon ThomsonR-WI-3
Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
Rep. Dick ShoupR-MT-1
Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4
Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
Rep. James GroverR-NY-2
Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-40
Rep. Alan SteelmanR-TX-5
Rep. Edwin EshlemanR-PA-16
Rep. James HarveyR-MI-8
Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
Rep. Louis FreyR-FL-9
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5
Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
Rep. Dan KuykendallR-TN-8
Rep. Samuel YoungR-IL-10
Rep. Joel BroyhillR-VA-10
Rep. David TowellR-NV
Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-12
Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
Rep. Charles GubserR-CA-10
Rep. Vinegar Bend MizellR-NC-5
Rep. John SaylorR-PA-12
Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
Rep. Louis WymanR-NH-1
Rep. John HuntR-NJ-1
Rep. William BrayR-IN-6
Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. Charles ChamberlainR-MI-6
Rep. John DellenbackR-OR-4
Rep. John McCollisterR-NE-2
Rep. Stanford ParrisR-VA-8
Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
Rep. Henry SmithR-NY-36
Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
Rep. William KeatingR-OH-1
Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Roger ZionR-IN-8
Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
Rep. Richard MallaryR-VT
Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
Rep. Charles TeagueR-CA-13
Rep. Howard RobisonR-NY-27
Rep. Robert HanrahanR-IL-3
Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
Rep. William ScherleR-IA-5
Rep. Alphonzo BellR-CA-28
Rep. Andrew HinshawR-CA-39
Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
Rep. Harold FroehlichR-WI-8
Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-42
Rep. Earl RuthR-NC-8
Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
Rep. Wiley MayneR-IA-6
Rep. Carleton KingR-NY-29
Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
Rep. William HudnutR-IN-11
Rep. Ancher NelsenR-MN-2
Rep. Edward YoungR-SC-6
Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
Rep. John WareR-PA-5
Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
Rep. Leslie ArendsR-IL-15
Rep. Peter FrelinghuysenR-NJ-5
Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-20
Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
Rep. Harold CollierR-IL-6
Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
Rep. David MartinR-NE-3
Rep. Donald ClancyR-OH-2
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6
Rep. William KetchumR-CA-36
Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
Rep. Edward HutchinsonR-MI-4
Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
Rep. Walter PowellR-OH-8
Rep. Herman SchneebeliR-PA-17
Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-25
Rep. Benjamin BlackburnR-GA-4
Rep. Craig HosmerR-CA-32
Rep. Glenn DavisR-WI-9
Rep. Delwin ClawsonR-CA-23
Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
Rep. George GoodlingR-PA-19

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 396 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. 1 yea vote was cast by members of neither major party and is highlighted on the compass but not listed. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Energy and Commerce Committee · House · referred to
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee · Senate · reported by

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 18 actions.

Nov 3, 1973Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
PresidentPresident · Public law 93-146.
Oct 23, 1973PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
Oct 18, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
Oct 17, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #539 (346-51).House roll call 539
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #539 (346-51).House roll call 539
Oct 12, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-587.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-587.
Sep 25, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
Sep 19, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
Sep 6, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R.8351.
Jun 29, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
Jun 28, 1973FloorFloor · Measure repassed Senate, amended (third passage).
FloorFloor · Measure repassed Senate, amended.
Jun 21, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
Jun 18, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate

Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.