AMTRAK’S FUTURE ––

HERE IS INFO AND COMMENT FROM SENATOR LEAHY

[BACKGROUND: The Amtrak Reform Council vote was 6-5. According to news reports, council members -- three of whom were attending by teleconference, initially split 5-5 on whether to approve the declaration. One council member, Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist, was neither present nor connected by telephone. The meeting was adjourned while he was located. Once located there was intense lobbying of Norquist by both sides. The Democratic economic stimulus bill reported out of the Senate Finance Committee yesterday, and set for floor action starting Tuesday, contains a provision supported by Senator Leahy which permits Amtrak to issue $7 billion in tax credit bonds for rail infrastructure in 2002, plus it sets aside an additional $2 billion in bonds for the Hudson River Tunnel into New York City. The provisions are drawn from a bill cosponsored by Leahy, S. 250. This will free up additional money for Amtrak for operating expenses.]

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COMMENT FROM SENATOR LEAHY:

"The terrorist attacks proved that we cannot afford to be overly dependent on any one mode of transportation and that rail passenger is more important today than it has been in decades. Since September 11th ridership on many Amtrak trains has jumped sharply, especially in the Northeast. The federal government supports billions of dollars in road and air travel costs every year. The federal government just bailed out the airlines to the tune of $15 billion. Congress and the President also need to support a viable Amtrak rail system."

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Friday, Nov. 9, 2001