Legislative Update from the National Association of Railroad Passengers

Sorry I can’t be with you all today at the VARP Annual meeting. Here’s a brief update on where things are in Washington and what you can do to help!

Sincerely,
David Johnson
NARP Assistant Director

• Administration proposes zero funding for Amtrak and advocates an Amtrak bankruptcy for “needed change”
• Amtrak did not submit a grant request, will do so “when planning process permits”
• Transportation Secretary Mineta’s Amtrak bankruptcy road tour has been to Chicago, Charlotte, St. Louis, Boston (unannounced), Detroit, and Sacramento. Cool reception from most media, but untruths are being said.
• Amtrak financial situation is becoming problematic as debt holders become nervous
• Senate did not pass Byrd Amendment to fiscal 2006 budget resolution, 46-52 vote. Although this is not the appropriations process, it sends a bad sign
• Mineta testified to fairly sympathetic House committee March 17 (except for John Sweeny, R-NY)

• Trains 66 and 67 will continue to operate the entire length of their route after the April 25 schedule change.
 
• Ditto for the Vermonter. In fact, the bus connection to Montreal will be restored!
• A scurrilous Internet rumor began circulating on or about March 15 that Amtrak was about to post the 180-day discontinuance notices for all long-distance trains. NARP has confirmed with Amtrak that this rumor is false.  Amtrak has no such plans.
• Passenger rail advocates are reminded that baseless, non-factual rumor spreading hurts the credibility of our cause and uselessly diverts time and energy that we all could put to better use.

Mineta (Boston, March 23): “Commuter trains constitute the majority of traffic on Amtrak’s tracks [NEC], so it just makes sense to put state and local officials in charge of the tracks and stations that are so vital to their economies.”

Fact Check

• Amtrak is the only provider of longer-distance services.
• Two large holes exist in commuter operations: Baltimore to Wilmington, DE, and Old Saybrook, CT, to Providence, RI.
• No one ever said to LIRR or UP, “Hey, someone else should own your track so you can concentrate on running trains.”

Rick Klein, La Junta’s (CO) city manager: “The loss of the passenger rail service would be a blow to the city—it’s one of our major transportation links. My take is that if Amtrak was an air carrier, it would be the seventh largest in the country. It serves rural America and rural Colorado. If we can bail out the air industry why can’t we do it for the railroad?”

“Loss of Amtrak May Hurt La Junta, Colo.–Area Communities” (Pueblo Chieftain, September 24, 2004)

2005 Enacted

Billions

	FY03 Actual	FY04 Enacted	FY05 Enacted	FY05 Actual	FY06 Enacted
General Fund	$3.25	$3.01	$1.85	$2.86	$1.70
General as % of Total	46	40	24	37	20
Trust Fund	$3.78	$4.47	$6.00	$4.92	$6.50
Total	$7.02	$7.48	$7.85	$7.77	$8.20

In 2001, 41% of the $133 billion spent on highways came from payments other than the gas tax, tolls, and vehicle taxes and fees.

• 15.3% general fund appropriations
• 9.5% bond issue proceeds
• 5.8% investment income and other receipts
• 5.6% other taxes & fees
• 4.8% property taxes.

Source: “Improving Efficiency and Equity in Transportation Finance,” by Martin Wachs (The Brookings Institution Series on Transportation Reform, April 2003)

“Crude oil for April delivery jumped to $56.46 a barrel in New York, after reaching as high as $56.60—well above the previous record close of $55.17 set on Oct. 22.” —CNN, March 16

“If you believe America has been built on cheap resources—oil, gas and coal—and think the nation will not be affected [by higher prices], you are in for a big surprise.” —Charles T. Maxwell, senior energy analyst at Weeden & Co. (to the Associated Press)

Contact your elected officials!

• Not just Federal Government, but state and local too.
• Your Senators and many of your House members are very supportive—be sure to thank them!
• Sometimes thanks is more important than a request for support.
• When writing elected officials, keep your message brief (one page or 4 to 5 email paragraphs) and to the point (talk about only one issue at a time).
• Refrain from insults! Anger accomplishes nothing.
• Explain why your elected official should care about Amtrak.
• Be sure to include your postal address to prove that you are a constituent.
• Fax is the best way, email second; send U.S. mail to district offices only (anthrax screening is still in effect in Washington).
• If you choose to call, you will likely speak with the elected official’s legislative aid for transportation.
• Offer to follow up a phone call with a fax or email with more detail.
• Let the NARP office know if we need to follow up with an office!
• Spread the word about what is happening!
• Many people simply do not understand the issues, and many more do not understand what exactly an Amtrak bankruptcy means.
• Distribute the NARP Action Alert Flyer—be sure it says “0502” in the bottom right corner.
• Sign at least one new person up for NARP and VARP. It helps us financially and bring a new person to our cause. Makes a great gift!