Save Our Trains Michigan
Conductor
To All NARP Members:
The fiscal 2005 Amtrak appropriations process continues. Representatives
Jack Quinn (R-NY) and Jim Oberstar (D-MN) are circulating separate
pro-Amtrak letters, in favor of $1.798 billion, among colleagues in
their respective parties.
The letters, to be delivered to House Appropriations leadership, state,
in part, "As you work toward the funding needs for the nation's
transportation systems, we respectfully request that you fund Amtrak at
$1.798 billion -- the level requested by its President and CEO David
Gunn and approved by its Board of Directors. Over the last two years Mr.
Gunn has done a remarkable job bringing stability to, and reforming,
Amtrak's operations. He has increased ridership and revenues, eliminated
redundant layers of management and reduced costs...David Gunn's
leadership at Amtrak has allowed policymakers the opportunity to debate
the railroad's future in something other than a crisis environment."
It is critical to get more signatures on both letters -- especially
those that signed last year's letter. Go to our website
<http://www.narprail.org/house6.htm> to see if you Representative signed
last year's letter. If he/she did, please remind them that they signed
last year; if not, encourage them to sign this year.
To contact your Representative, you may go to our website,
<http://www.narprail.org/linksfed.htm>.
If possible, please send a fax or make a phone call. If you are given a
staff-person's voice mail, be sure to leave your substantive request in
addition to your name and number. Staff often does not have time to
return calls, but they do listen carefully to messages. If you choose
to send an E-mail it is important to go through the House website. To
combat spam, many offices change their general E-mail address and the
address you used last time may not be the same now. No matter what form
you use, be sure to include your U.S. Mail address to show that you are
a constituent.
Republican Representatives interested in signing the letter can have
their Legislative aid contact Steve Stallmer in Quinn's office;
Democrats can contact Frank Mulvey, minority staff director of the
Subcommittee on Railroads.
--David Johnson
NARP Transportation Associate
The fiscal 2005 Amtrak appropriations process continues. Representatives
Jack Quinn (R-NY) and Jim Oberstar (D-MN) are circulating separate
pro-Amtrak letters, in favor of $1.798 billion, among colleagues in
their respective parties.
The letters, to be delivered to House Appropriations leadership, state,
in part, "As you work toward the funding needs for the nation's
transportation systems, we respectfully request that you fund Amtrak at
$1.798 billion -- the level requested by its President and CEO David
Gunn and approved by its Board of Directors. Over the last two years Mr.
Gunn has done a remarkable job bringing stability to, and reforming,
Amtrak's operations. He has increased ridership and revenues, eliminated
redundant layers of management and reduced costs...David Gunn's
leadership at Amtrak has allowed policymakers the opportunity to debate
the railroad's future in something other than a crisis environment."
It is critical to get more signatures on both letters -- especially
those that signed last year's letter. Go to our website
<http://www.narprail.org/house6.htm> to see if you Representative signed
last year's letter. If he/she did, please remind them that they signed
last year; if not, encourage them to sign this year.
To contact your Representative, you may go to our website,
<http://www.narprail.org/linksfed.htm>.
If possible, please send a fax or make a phone call. If you are given a
staff-person's voice mail, be sure to leave your substantive request in
addition to your name and number. Staff often does not have time to
return calls, but they do listen carefully to messages. If you choose
to send an E-mail it is important to go through the House website. To
combat spam, many offices change their general E-mail address and the
address you used last time may not be the same now. No matter what form
you use, be sure to include your U.S. Mail address to show that you are
a constituent.
Republican Representatives interested in signing the letter can have
their Legislative aid contact Steve Stallmer in Quinn's office;
Democrats can contact Frank Mulvey, minority staff director of the
Subcommittee on Railroads.
--David Johnson
NARP Transportation Associate
