Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act

This bill, titled the Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act, prohibits Amtrak from requiring customers to use mandatory arbitration for disputes regarding consumer rights or civil rights violations. Under the new rules, any pre-existing agreements that force passengers to settle such claims through arbitration instead of court would be considered invalid and unenforceable. Additionally, the legislation ensures that passengers retain the right to join class-action lawsuits against Amtrak, preventing the company from using contracts to block these collective legal actions. Courts, rather than arbitrators, will be responsible for deciding whether these arbitration clauses are valid, with the exception of disputes covered under the Railway Labor Act. These changes apply immediately upon the bill's enactment and cover any disputes arising on or after that date.