WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) today celebrated the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s advancement of their bipartisan, bicameral Baby Changing on Board Act. The Senators’ bill would require each Amtrak train to be outfitted with baby changing stations in all accessible restrooms and to post adequate signage indicating their availability. The Baby Changing on Board Act also directs Amtrak to utilize current funding streams to install baby changing stations on new cars until Amtrak can meet a minimum service requirement.
The House companion bill, led by Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-2), passed the House with bipartisan support in June. It now heads to the Senate floor.
“A lack of safe and sanitary spaces for parents to care for their children while traveling can make any journey more challenging. Longer train rides can be especially stressful for parents who need to utilize baby changing stations more than once when riding the rails. While some trains are equipped with these crucial facilities, Amtrak can—and must—do more to increase access to these private, sanitary spaces to care for their children,” said Senator Welch. “I’m thankful for the support of the Commerce Committee on this bipartisan legislation and look forward to bringing this bill to the Senate floor.”
“The route from Memphis to New Orleans – the main Amtrak route used by Tennesseans – is almost nine hours, and traveling families need access to changing facilities for their children,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Baby Changing on Board Act would ensure that families traveling by Amtrak are supported with baby changing stations in all accessible restrooms at no additional cost to the American taxpayer. I’m glad to see this bipartisan legislation pass through the Senate Commerce Committee as we work to better support traveling families.”
In Fiscal Year 2025, Amtrak set an all-time ridership record with 34.5 million passenger trips and operated routes connecting 46 states, Washington D.C., and three Canadian provinces. The average duration of a trip on Amtrak’s most traveled route, the Northeast Regional, can last between 3.5 and 8 hours, from D.C. to New York and from D.C. to Boston, respectively. Amtrak’s longest daily route, connecting San Francisco to Chicago, can take passengers 52 hours to travel. Parents and families who are traveling often need to change a newborn child’s diaper every two hours, making accessible, safe, and comfortable changing facilities essential.
Learn more about the Baby Changing on Board Act.
Read the full text of the bill.
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