FINAL PUSH FOR $1.2 BILLION FOR AMTRAK

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FINAL PUSH FOR $1.2 BILLION FOR AMTRAK
February 6, 2003

The Senate and House conferees are expected to start negotiations regarding the FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill during the month of February. It is during these negotiations that Congress will decide the fate of Amtrak.

We all know how devastating it will be if Amtrak does not receive the $1.2 billion needed to continue operations. That is why it is so important that you contact your representative by phone and e-mail and ask for his/her support of the full funding amount of $1.2 billion for Amtrak. It is crucial to let them know that if Amtrak does not receive $1.2 billion it will begin shutting its doors immediately.

Click below to view the Democratic and Republican “Dear Colleague” letters that were being circulated through Congress and have now been presented to the conferees. The signatures on these letters represent support of the $1.2 billion for Amtrak. If your representative appears as a signatory on either of these two letters, please call and thank him/her for their continued support of Amtrak. If your representative is not a signatory on either letter, it is vital that you call and ask him/her to support the $1.2 billion funding level for Amtrak. Also ask him/her to write a letter informing the conferees of their support.

(click for Democratic letter)
(click for Republican letter)

We are now in the final stages of our fight. I cannot stress enough how important it is to make those calls and send e-mails today. This is of the utmost importance, not only to maintain Amtrak as a national passenger rail system, but to also ensure the preservation of the railroad retirement system. If Amtrak should be discontinued, with the loss of over 20,000 contributors into the railroad retirement system, it unfortunately could not be sustained.

Keep those phones ringing!

TCU’S TOLL FREE HOTLINE (800) 284-2919