Amtrak Board's Reorganization Plan

AMTRAK BOARD'S REORGANIZATION PLAN -- (Extensions of Remarks - April 26, 2005)

SPEECH OF
HON. NICK J. RAHALL II
OF WEST VIRGINIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2005

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, last week, Amtrak's Board of Directors released a set of "strategic reform initiatives" the railroad would like to take "to revitalize U.S. passenger rail service." The Chairman of the Board suggested these reforms would "strengthen passenger rail service at a time when our nation needs it most."

In my view, which I share with many of my colleagues on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, these reforms are misguided and would doom the future prospects for the railroad, result in significant hardships for rail passengers in the long-term and be a tremendous disservice to the hard-working employees of Amtrak.

It comes as no surprise to me that the Board's proposal is similar to that of the Administration's-Amtrak's entire governing body has been appointed by President Bush. To be clear, if these proposals, both from Amtrak and the Administration, go into effect, Amtrak will not survive. In many cases, the millions of people who depend on Amtrak's services will be left with no reliable means of rail transportation.

Of significant concern is the Board's proposal as it relates to its workers. The Board proposes to alter the Railway Labor Act to enable Amtrak to unilaterally change work rules and contract out jobs. The Board's reforms would also eliminate many health, safety and benefit protections for which Amtrak's workers have fought hard. In addition, under the Board's plan, newly hired Amtrak and other passenger rail workers would be placed in the Social Security program instead of the Railroad Retirement System, which has covered rail workers for more than 70 years.

The Board is attempting to put Amtrak's funding burden on the backs of its hard-working employees and for that I will not stand. To that end, I would like to highlight the introduction of the Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2005, introduced by Chairman YOUNG and Ranking Member OBERSTAR.

This legislation would provide Amtrak with $2 billion each year through 2008, and would put the railroad on the track to financial and operational stability. This bill also includes strict funding accountability procedures to ensure contractual obligations are met and money is spent wisely. It is this type of proposal-not the Administration's or Amtrak's Board's plan-that will benefit Amtrak and its passengers in the coming years.

In closing, I urge my colleagues to reject both the Bush Administration's and Amtrak Board's proposals to dismantle Amtrak. They aim only to weaken the railroad, place greater financial burden on the states, and harm the hard-working employees of Amtrak and passenger rail throughout the country.

http://thomas.loc.gov