Duckworth Applauds Nomination of David Capozzi to Amtrak Board of Directors

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Joe Biden nominated David Capozzi to serve on Amtrak’s Board of Directors. Capozzi will serve in the designated disability advocate seat on the board, a provision Duckworth authored and successfully included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to ensure an individual with a disability who has a demonstrated history or experience with accessibility, mobility and inclusive transportation in passenger rail or commuter rail has a voice on Amtrak’s board.

“I’m pleased to see David Capozzi’s nomination today for the Amtrak Board of Directors,” Duckworth said. “It’s long past time Amtrak prioritizes the voices of the disability community, ensuring the 61 million Americans with disability are heard for our nation’s premier passenger rail service. I worked hard to make sure Amtrak’s Board of Directors created this space for a disability advocate, and I’m proud to see President Biden’s nomination. I look forward to having Mr. Capozzi as a strong leader advocating for Amtrak to implement policies that go above bare minimum federal requirement and do more to protect the dignity of passengers with disabilities.”

Capozzi is a retired federal senior executive. He was the Executive Director of the U.S. Access Board from 2008-20 and was the Director of the Board’s Office of Technical and Information Services from 1992-2008. Prior to joining the Access Board, Capozzi was Director of Project ACTION and Vice President of Advocacy for Easter Seals, and was the National Advocacy Director for the Paralyzed Veterans of America. He was a member of the legal team and lobbying captain for the disability community that helped craft the Americans with Disabilities Act. Capozzi was the lead negotiator on the Department of Transportation’s Federal Advisory Committee that negotiated proposed regulations implementing the Air Carrier Access Act, and chaired the Urban Mass Transportation Administration’s (UMTA) ADA Federal Advisory Committee.

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