EMPLOYEE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE.

SEC. 215. EMPLOYEE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE.(a) Provision of Financial Incentives.—For Amtrak employees who are adversely affected by the cessation of the operation of a long-distance route or any other route under section 24711 of title 49, United States Code, previously operated by Amtrak, the Secretary shall develop a program under which the Secretary may, at the Secretary’s discretion, provide grants for financial incentives to be provided to Amtrak employees who voluntarily terminate their employment with Amtrak and relinquish any legal rights to receive termination-related payments under any contractual agreement with Amtrak.(b) Conditions for Financial Incentives.—As a condition for receiving financial assistance grants under this section, Amtrak must certify that—(1) a reasonable attempt was made to reassign an employee adversely affected under section 24711 of title 49, United States Code, or by the elimination of any route, to other positions within Amtrak in accordance with any contractual agreements;(2) the financial assistance results in a net reduction in the total number of employees equal to the number receiving financial incentives;(3) the financial assistance results in a net reduction in total employment expense equivalent to the total employment expenses associated with the employees receiving financial incentives; and(4) the total number of employees eligible for termination-related payments will not be increased without the express written consent of the Secretary.(c) Amount of Financial Incentives.—The financial incentives authorized under this section may be no greater than $100,000 per employee.(d) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to make grants to Amtrak to provide financial incentives under subsection (a).(e) Termination-Related Payments.—If Amtrak employees adversely affected by the cessation of Amtrak service resulting from the awarding of a grant to an operator other than Amtrak for the operation of a route under section 24711 of title 49, United States Code, or any other route, previously operated by Amtrak do not receive financial incentives under subsection (a), then the Secretary shall make grants to Amtrak from funds authorized by 122 STAT. 4930 section 101 of this division for termination-related payments to employees under existing contractual agreements.