Amtrak Action Alert
July 14, 2003
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Treasury FY04 Amtrak Funding Number Eliminates National Passenger Rail Service
Amtrak Shuts Down in 2004 Under Weight of Eliminating National System
Full House Appropriations Committee Vote Expected Wednesday, July 16 On Friday July 11, The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Treasury, Chaired by Ernest J. Istook (OK), moved to drastically reduce funding for Amtrak in 2004 to $580 million dollars as well as directed Amtrak to eliminate the national passenger rail system. At this funding level, Amtrak is position to shutdown in early 2004.
The $580 million dollars is $320 million less than the Administration's request and $1.4 billion less than House authorizers approved on June 25, 2003 (HR 2522). The bill would require that the funding for Amtrak go toward its Northeast Corridor and West Coast routes, effectively eliminating the rest of the passenger rail system.
Please visit the Conference's homepage at usmayors.org for full text.
|
