T
Tim
Guest
Dear [my name]:
Thank you for contacting me about Amtrak passenger rail service. I
appreciate knowing your views on this issue.
I share your support for Amtrak passenger rail service. A modern
transportation system is essential to protect public safety and
encourage
economic development. Railroads are also central to our nation's
efforts
to conserve energy, reduce pollution, and limit traffic congestion on
our
highways. On average, the federal government spends $33 billion per
year
on highways and $12 billion per year on aviation, yet not much more than
$1 billion per year on passenger rail service.
Throughout my time in Congress, I have supported legislation to provide
increased funding for Amtrak. I appreciate the service Amtrak provides
to
the people of Illinois and continue to watch Amtrak's progress closely.
Amtrak serves 30 Illinois communities on three intra-state routes and
has
about two million riders throughout the state each year.
Congress approved $1.225 billion for Amtrak for Fiscal Year 2004
(FY04).
In addition, the Consolidated Appropriations Bill for FY04 included
language allowing Amtrak to defer a $100 million federal loan. The
total
federal contribution for Amtrak in FY04 is $1.325 billion.
I am an original cosponsor of the National Defense Rail Act (S. 104),
which would reauthorize federal funding for Amtrak, improve security and
service on Amtrak, and provide funding to develop and implement
high-speed
rail corridors throughout the nation. This bill has been referred to
the
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In the short-term we must continue to fund Amtrak to ensure its
survival, but we also must look toward the long term and prepare Amtrak
to
meet the transportation demands of the 21st Century.
I will continue to fight to preserve Amtrak's viability and will keep
your support for Amtrak in mind as these initiatives are considered
further by the Senate. Thank you again for your message.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here in Illinois, both Senator Durbin and Senator Obama support Amtrak, so I sent letters to them simply to acknowledge I support their stances too. Great to see Durbin's prompt response though.
Thank you for contacting me about Amtrak passenger rail service. I
appreciate knowing your views on this issue.
I share your support for Amtrak passenger rail service. A modern
transportation system is essential to protect public safety and
encourage
economic development. Railroads are also central to our nation's
efforts
to conserve energy, reduce pollution, and limit traffic congestion on
our
highways. On average, the federal government spends $33 billion per
year
on highways and $12 billion per year on aviation, yet not much more than
$1 billion per year on passenger rail service.
Throughout my time in Congress, I have supported legislation to provide
increased funding for Amtrak. I appreciate the service Amtrak provides
to
the people of Illinois and continue to watch Amtrak's progress closely.
Amtrak serves 30 Illinois communities on three intra-state routes and
has
about two million riders throughout the state each year.
Congress approved $1.225 billion for Amtrak for Fiscal Year 2004
(FY04).
In addition, the Consolidated Appropriations Bill for FY04 included
language allowing Amtrak to defer a $100 million federal loan. The
total
federal contribution for Amtrak in FY04 is $1.325 billion.
I am an original cosponsor of the National Defense Rail Act (S. 104),
which would reauthorize federal funding for Amtrak, improve security and
service on Amtrak, and provide funding to develop and implement
high-speed
rail corridors throughout the nation. This bill has been referred to
the
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In the short-term we must continue to fund Amtrak to ensure its
survival, but we also must look toward the long term and prepare Amtrak
to
meet the transportation demands of the 21st Century.
I will continue to fight to preserve Amtrak's viability and will keep
your support for Amtrak in mind as these initiatives are considered
further by the Senate. Thank you again for your message.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here in Illinois, both Senator Durbin and Senator Obama support Amtrak, so I sent letters to them simply to acknowledge I support their stances too. Great to see Durbin's prompt response though.
