Rehberg Fights for Critical Amtrak Funding

Press Release

Rehberg Fights for Critical Amtrak Funding

Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today joined House colleagues in halting efforts to cut funding for Amtrak. The House Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill was debated on the House floor today.

"We're constantly fighting to keep Amtrak funding off the chopping block," said Rehberg, Co-chair of the House Rail Caucus. "Montana's rural communities depend on rail service to transport products from one place to the next. It's also an affordable and reliable way to travel. Thankfully, we were again able to prevent these cuts."

Today, Representatives Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and Pete Sessions (R-TX) introduced several amendments to significantly reduce Amtrak funding by as much as $475 million in an effort to eliminate funding for long distance rail lines such as the Empire Builder in Montana. Rehberg joined with a bipartisan coalition that voted overwhelmingly to defeat the amendments.

Amtrak's Empire Builder serves as many as 140,000 Montanans annually. Additionally, Amtrak accounts for over $3.2 million in wages for the Montana economy, while direct spending by Amtrak travelers in Montana is estimated at more than $5.3 million annually.

"What a lot of people outside of Montana don't realize is that rail service is critical," said Rehberg. "We have areas that have great air and bus services, but in the places we don't have these services, Amtrak is essential. Anytime you have a large geographic area with a small population, rail service is absolutely vital."

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