2026 DC Workshops + Days on the Hill

Legislative & Day on the Hill Resources

• 2026 Legislative Resources
• 2026 Rail Passenger Day on the Hill Resources

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Workshop Agendas

Northeast & South

Monday, April 20th

8:30am - 9:00pm - Office doors open

9:00am - 9:15am - President’s Welcome - Jim Mathews, President & CEO: Welcome and overview of the agenda.

9:15am - 10:00am - Legislative Briefing - Sean Jeans-Gail, V.P. of Gov’t Affairs + Policy: we’ll go over our budgetary and policy “ask” for 2026, provide updates on the FY2027 appropriations process, and discuss the latest intel on the Trump Administration’s plans for IIJA rail funds.

10:00am - 11:00am - Amtrak

• Joe Barr – Sr. Director, State Partnerships and Development
• Todd Stennis – Director, Government Affairs - South

Amtrak will provide an overview of the progress they’ve made on IIJA-funded projects, updates to their equipment procurement efforts, and discuss how they’re working with regional and State partners to expand service.

11:00am - 11:15am - BREAK

11:15am - Noon - Gael Sullivan, General Director for Federal Government Affairs, BNSF Railway: we’ll hear about what BNSF's analysis has uncovered about how the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would impact shipping and passenger services, and BNSF’s approach to educating the public and policymakers about those impacts.

Noon - 1:00pm - LUNCH

1:00pm - 1:45pm: - Alex Beckmann, Legislative Director, Teamsters Rail Conference: hear from one of the leading labor organizations in the country about their legislative goals for 2026, what they hope to see in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization, and how they’re working with other stakeholder groups to build a stronger rail industry in the U.S.

1:45pm - 2:30pm - Surface Transportation Reauthorization Overview - Sean Jeans-Gail, V.P. of Gov’t Affairs + Policy: with a little over five months until the expiration of the IIJA, time is running short to introduce and pass the next surface transportation bill. We’ll help you understand the process this legislation must navigate to be enacted, and drill down on our short-list of priorities.

2:30pm - 2:45pm - BREAK

2:45pm - 3:30pm - Day on the Hill Preparation: prepare for the next day’s Hill meetings by going over meeting materials, practice delivering our best arguments for better passenger rail, prepare for frequently heard criticism of federal rail programs and spending, and field any questions you may have.

3:30pm - 3:45pm - Closing remarks, logistics, housekeeping - Jim Mathews, President & CEO

Tuesday, April 21st

9am - 5:00pm: Day on the Hill

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Mid-Atlantic and Midwest

Tuesday, April 21st

8:30am - 9:00pm - Office doors open

9:00am - 9:15am - President’s Welcome - Jim Mathews, President & CEO: Welcome and overview of the agenda.

9:15am - 10:00am - Legislative Briefing - Sean Jeans-Gail, V.P. of Gov’t Affairs + Policy: we’ll go over our budgetary and policy “ask” for 2026, provide updates on the FY2027 appropriations process, and discuss the latest intel on the Trump Administration’s plans for IIJA rail funds.

10:00am - 11:00am - Amtrak

• Marty Sandoval - Director, Government Affairs - Midwest
• Joe Barr - Sr. Director, State Partnerships and Development

Amtrak will provide an overview of the progress they’ve made on IIJA-funded projects, updates to their equipment procurement efforts, and discuss how they’re working with regional and State partners to expand service.

11:15am - Noon - Lucy Shaw, Legislative Representative, AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department: hear from one of the leading labor organizations in the country about their legislative goals for 2026, what they hope to see in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization, and how they’re working with other stakeholder groups to build a stronger rail industry in the U.S.

Noon - 1:00pm - LUNCH

1:00pm - 1:45pm - Matt Delaney, Director, Government & Public Affairs, Rail Supply Institute: RSI will discuss their 2026 report calculating the impact of the U.S. rail supply industry to the U.S. economy. We’ll look at how RSI calculated these benefits, how it breaks down by state, and how advocates can use this data to secure public investment for rail.

1:45pm - 2:30pm - Surface Transportation Reauthorization Overview - Sean Jeans-Gail, V.P. of Gov’t Affairs + Policy: with a little over five months until the expiration of the IIJA, time is running short to introduce and pass the next surface transportation bill. We’ll help you understand the process this legislation must navigate to be enacted, and drill down on the short-list of priorities we’re advocating for.

2:30pm - 3:00pm - Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger Proposal - Jim Mathews, President & CEO: hear from Rail Passengers staff about how we’re engaging with the Surface Transportation Board’s review of Union Pacific’s proposed merger with Norfolk Southern, including engagement with industry stakeholders and analysis of the impact this merger would have on America’s train passengers.

3:00pm - 3:15pm - BREAK

3:15pm - 4:00pm - Day on the Hill Preparation: prepare for the next day’s Hill meetings by going over meeting materials, practice delivering our best arguments for better passenger rail, prepare for frequently heard criticism of federal rail programs and spending, and field any questions you may have.

Thursday, April 23rd

9am - 5:00pm: Day on the Hill

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West Coast, Southwest, and Mountains & Plains

Thursday, April 23rd

8:30am - 9:00pm - Office doors open

9:00am - 9:15am - President’s Welcome - Jim Mathews, President & CEO: Welcome and overview of the agenda.

9:15am - 10:00am - Legislative Briefing - Sean Jeans-Gail, V.P. of Gov’t Affairs + Policy: we’ll go over our budgetary and policy “ask” for 2026, provide updates on the FY2027 appropriations process, and discuss the latest intel on the Trump Administration’s plans for IIJA rail funds.

10:00am - 10:15am - BREAK

10:15am - 11:00am - Surface Transportation Reauthorization Overview - Sean Jeans-Gail, V.P. of Gov’t Affairs + Policy: with a little over five months until the expiration of the IIJA, time is running short to introduce and pass the next surface transportation bill. We’ll help you understand the process this legislation must navigate to be enacted, and drill down on the short-list of priorities we’re advocating for.

11:00am - Noon - Day on the Hill Preparation: prepare for the next day’s Hill meetings by going over meeting materials, practice delivering our best arguments for better passenger rail, prepare for frequently heard criticism of federal rail programs and spending, and field any questions you may have.

Noon - 1:00pm - LUNCH

1:00pm - 2:00pm - Amtrak - Alex Khalfin, Director, Government Affairs - West: Amtrak will provide an overview of the progress they’ve made on IIJA-funded projects, updates to their equipment procurement efforts, and discuss how they’re working with regional and State partners to expand service.

2:00pm - 2:30pm - Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger Proposal - Jim Mathews, President & CEO: hear from Rail Passengers staff about how we’re engaging with the Surface Transportation Board’s review of Union Pacific’s proposed merger with Norfolk Southern, including engagement with industry stakeholders and analysis of the impact this merger would have on America’s train passengers.

2:30pm - 3:15pm - Dave Strohmaier, Chair, Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority: hear from the Big Sky Rail Authority about policy proposals they’re pursuing to remove obstacles for Long-Distance Corridors to the Corridor Identification Program, and how they’re working with the U.S. Senate to bolster corridor development across the Western U.S.

3:15pm - 3:30pm - Closing remarks, logistics, housekeeping - Jim Mathews, President & CEO

Friday, April 24th

9:00am - 5:00pm: Day on the Hill