H.R. 8853 is a bill that amends federal law to permit Amtrak to utilize grant funds to meet the non-Federal matching requirements of specific grant programs. This change aims to enhance Amtrak's ability to secure funding for its operations and projects.
Supporters of H.R. 8853 have praised the bill for potentially increasing Amtrak's financial flexibility and enabling the rail service to access more federal funding. Advocates argue that this will improve rail infrastructure and services, ultimately benefiting passengers and communities reliant on Amtrak.
Critics of H.R. 8853 have expressed concerns that allowing Amtrak to use grant funds for non-Federal share requirements could lead to misuse of funds or diminish accountability. Some detractors argue that this could divert money from other essential transportation projects or undermine the competitive balance in grant allocations.
The analysis of H.R. 8853, which aims to amend grant fund usage for Amtrak, reveals no direct industry overlaps between the bill's subject matter and the sponsor Jennifer McClellan's top donor industries. While there is significant lobbying activity in the transportation sector, particularly from entities like VERDEGO AERO, which contributed $200,000, these contributions do not directly correlate with the bill's focus on Amtrak funding. The lack of direct financial ties between the sponsor's donors and the bill's provisions indicates a lower risk of conflicts of interest. However, the substantial lobbying amounts suggest that stakeholders in the transportation sector are actively seeking influence, which voters should be aware of.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VERDEGO AERO | THE JACKSON GROUP, LLC | $200,000 |
| PELION VENTURE PARTNERS | THE JACKSON GROUP, LLC | $38,000 |
| REFORMING AMERICA'S TAXES EQUITABLY (RATE) | SURROUND SOUND STRATEGIES, LLC | $30,000 |
| ANELLO PHOTONICS | THE JACKSON GROUP, LLC | $30,000 |
| SKYFRONT | THE JACKSON GROUP, LLC | $15,000 |
| 47G | THE JACKSON GROUP, LLC | $15,000 |
| GRAIN CHAIN | THE JACKSON GROUP, LLC | $5,000 |
| SKYFRONT | THE JACKSON GROUP, LLC | undisclosed |
| ADNEURIS THERAPEUTICS, INC. | MAD GLOBAL STRATEGY | undisclosed |
| ALUCHEM INC. | MAD GLOBAL STRATEGY | undisclosed |
| JOHN BRIAN LEDBETTER MISSIONS | JOHN BRIAN LEDBETTER MISSIONS CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| JOHN BRIAN LEDBETTER MISSIONS CORPORATION | JOHN BRIAN LEDBETTER MISSIONS CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| GPA MIDSTREAM ASSOCIATION | SHUMAKER ADVISORS, LLC | undisclosed |
| WESTLANDS WATER DISTRICT | DENNIS CARDOZA CONSULTING SERVICES | undisclosed |
| INDUSTRIOUS GROUP INC. | THORN RUN PARTNERS | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Jennifer McClellan, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
