Senate Votes to Support Amtrak

November 7, 2005

Amtrak will not fall victim to a budget cutter’s ax, the Senate asserted on Thursday, November 3, when it overwhelmingly reaffirmed its support of America’s passenger railroad.

The 96-3 vote authorized a multi-year federal investment in Amtrak.   Through 2011, the Senate designated $12 billion to fund system operations, make capital improvements and repay high-interest debt.   The bill sponsored by Trent Lott, R-Miss., stood alone as an amendment because President Bush threatened to veto a 2006 Transportation-Treasury-Housing bill if lawmakers included funds for Amtrak without overhauling the system.

“This overwhelming vote gives the railroad and its employees renewed prospects of upgrading equipment and infrastructure, addresses overdue maintenance needs and improves safety and security,” said AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Edward Wytkind in a statement.   “Today’s bipartisan vote is a clear and unequivocal endorsement of Amtrak and a strong national passenger rail system.”

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