Welch, Blackburn Celebrate Senate’s Unanimous Passage of Bill to Require Baby Changing Stations on Amtrak Trains

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) today celebrated the Senate’s unanimous passage 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-02), passed the House with bipartisan support in June. The amended Senate bill now heads to the House for final passage before reaching the President’s desk.  

“Not having safe and sanitary spaces for parents to care for their children while traveling can make any journey more challenging. Amtrak can—and must—do more to increase access to private, sanitary spaces for parents to care for their children,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to have earned unanimous support from the Senate on our bipartisan legislation and urge my colleagues in the House to make Amtrak more family-friendly.” 

“The route from Memphis to New Orleans – one of the main Amtrak routes used by Tennesseans – is almost nine hours, meaning traveling families need access to changing facilities for their children,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Baby Changing on Board Act would ensure that each Amtrak train is outfitted with baby changing stations at no additional cost to the American taxpayer, ensuring that families can care for their children. I’m glad to see this bipartisan legislation pass the Senate and  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.