By Ron Thaniel
October 31, 2005

By a 93–1 vote, the Senate on October 20 approved $1.45 billion for Amtrak in the massive $65.96 billion Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development Fiscal Year 2006 Appropriations bill. The $1.45 billion appropriations for Amtrak is $250 million above Fiscal Year 2005.

Prior to the vote, Conference of Mayors President Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill urged the Senate to support $1.45 billion, stating “According to U.S. Department of Treasury Inspector General Kenneth Mead, Amtrak requires funding of $1.4 to $1.5 billion annually just to maintain existing operations.”

“Amtrak not only provides these critical services to major metropolitan areas but for many rural Americans, Amtrak represents the only major mass transportation link to the rest of the country,” wrote O’Neill.

As USMAYOR heads to press, no date has been announce for the conference of the House and Senate bills.