Schumer, Clinton Announce Senate Passage of $1.45 Billion for Amtrak
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced Senate passage of $1.45 billion for Amtrak within the FY 2006 Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. A conference committee will now reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the Bill before sending it to the President.
"This is great news for New York and for the entire Country. We have fought tooth and nail to save Amtrak and reverse the Administration's proposed budget cuts. This victory means we're now on track toward preserving and strengthening our nation's passenger rail system. The strong bipartisan showing proves yet again how critical Amtrak is and sends a powerful message to the Administration not to veto the final bill," Senator Schumer said.
"I applaud the Senate's actions to provide $1.45 billion for Amtrak which is so vital to the people of New York and throughout the United States," Senator Clinton said. "If it were up to this President, Amtrak would change its motto from All Aboard to Everyone Off. A strong message was sent to President Bush today that we are not going to allow Amtrak to go bankrupt. Penn Station is the busiest passenger rail station in the US - almost 9 million passengers boarded Amtrak trains in 2004. We must provide adequate resources to keep this vital rail system running."
http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=247566&&