posted
According to the National Association of Railroad Passengers: "27 Republican House Members--an all time high--request that Amtrak be properly funded in Fiscal 2007."
quote:February 16, 2006
Dear Chairman Nassle:
We are writing to express our support for adequate funding to sustain and improve Amtrak's national passenger rail system in the fiscal year 2007 Budget Resolution.
While the President's FY07 budget request for Amtrak is a significant step forward in providing sufficient funding for passenger rail, we are concerned that this funding proposal would leave the rail system incapable of providing effective service for its 25 million annual passengers. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta has emphasized the importance of reforming Amtrak's level of performance, and we agree that improving the safety and reliability of intercity passenger rail should be among our top transportation priorities.
In 2005, the Department of Transportation's Inspector General concluded that the "status quo" option for Amtrak is unsustainable and recommended that federal funding for Amtrak should rise from a suggested level of $1.6 billion in FY06 to an annual level of $2.0 billion in FY10. The Inspector General also noted that the postponement of maintenance on the Northeast Corridor and in other critical areas of the country significantly increases the risk of a serious accident on Amtrak's network.
Last year, both the House and the Senate overwhelmingly voted to support Amtrak, and the finaly FY06 Transportation Appropriations bill provided $1.3 billion for our national passenger rail system. Today, as Americans face rising energy prices and increasingly overcrowded highways, it is crucial that our government invest in an effective national passenger rail network.
We share the Administration's goal of developing a stronger intercity passenger rail system and we ask that your Committee provide sufficient funding for Amtrak in the FY07 Budget Resolution. Passenger rail plays a critical role in our nation's transportation system and it is essential that we ensure the safety and dependability of this transportation option.
Please consider our request for adequate funding for Amtrak in preparing the Budget Resolution. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Rep. Steve LaTourette (OH) - Chairman Subcommittee on Railroads Rep. Mike Castle (DE) Rep. Michael G. Fitzpatrick (PA) Rep. John R. Kuhl (NY)* Rep. John J.H. Schwarz (MI)* Rep. Spencer Bachus (AL)* Rep. Timothy V. Johnson (IL) Rep. Todd Platts (PA) Rep. Rob Simmons (CT) Rep. Mark Foley (FL)* Rep. Jim Gehrlach (PA) Rep. Sherwood Bohlert (NY) Rep. John E. Sweeney (NY) Rep. James A. Leach (IA)* Rep. Peter T. King (NY) Rep. Phil English (PA) Rep. Jim Saxton (NJ) Rep. Curt Weldon (PA) Rep. Mike Ferguson (NJ)* Rep. Michael R. Turner (OH)* Rep. Christopher H. Smith (NJ) Rep. Frank LoBiondo (NJ) Rep. James T. Walsh (NY) Rep. Dennis R. Rehberg (MT) Rep. Sue W. Kelly (NY) Rep. Robert W. Ney (OH) Rep. Jerry Weller (IL)
[* new signer this year as compared to last year’s letter]
Posts: 108 | From: Culver City, CA, US | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Looks like I need to wake up my Representative Poe, and get his name on that list.
Posts: 1418 | From: Houston, Republic of Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
I must say I'm surprised that Rep. Christopher Shays (R-4th-CT) is MIA. That district roundly comprises Fairfield County (STM & BPT).
Not surprised to note the absence of my "critter-for-life' Rep. Judy Biggert (R-13th-IL), but then you would not see her autographing a similiarly constructed "kill Amtrak' document..
BTW here's a great resource for determining the boundaries of a legislative district;
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For some reason or other, I'm surprised to see that Rep. Tammy Baldwin isn't on this list. Or Russ Feingold, for that matter. Or, Mark Kennedy.
Hmm. . . . . .
-------------------- "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one corner of the Earth all one's life." Posts: 506 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Mar 2002
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CG96: Russ Feingold is in the Senate and this list is Reps. from the House.
If I remember correctly, MN Rep. Mark Kennedy(R) has been very anti-Amtrak. He is now running for Senate to replace Mark Dayton(D) who is very pro-Amtrak.
Whoever runs against Rep. Kennedy for Senator as a Democrat should be questioned by both of us for a stand on Amtrak and passenger rail. Polls show Kennedy faring poorly against possible foes, and he has strong ties to DeLay and Abramoff.
If you are in Rep. Kennedy's district, you might also question candidates running for his seat to see where they stand. During an election, it is very possible you will get a response about a candidate's position from an e-mail, but you kind of have to read between the lines to get the truth out of it.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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