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President Bush proposed a fiscal 2006 budget that would eliminate all federal support for Amtrak. This has rallied passenger rail advocates like never before. Throughout the month of June, Amtrak funding legislation made its way through the House of Representatives and its requisite committees. Read our weekly news hotlines for June 17, June 24, and July 1 to get more information on the House funding process.
The Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee approved $1.4 billion on July 19 and the full Appropriations committee approved $1.45 billion on July 21 and the full Senate approved funding on October 20. Our weekly news hotlines of July 22 and October 21 has all the details on this.
A House-Senate conference committee reported out this legislation on November 17. It approved a $1.315 billion funding level for Amtrak operations and capital needs in fiscal 2006. Of that total, $495 million is to be used for operating expenses, and $780 million for capital funds and debt service. The operating total initially created some concern, as the Amtrak Board approved a $540 million budget for fiscal 2005. However, the Board has the ability to reprogram excess funds from fiscal 2005 to cover the difference. There are somewhat worrisome--but not terminal--concerns about language in the bill that mandate improvement in food and beverage and sleeping car financial performance.
NARP will continue to monitor this situation, while we press forward on the fiscal 2007 appropriation...believe it or not, that process is already underway.
In addition to the yearly appropriation, Senators Trent Lott (R-MS) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the “Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2005” (PRIIA) on July 27. The bill, approved as S. 1516 by the committee July 28 on an 17-4 vote and added to another piece of legislation on the Senate floor November 3 on a 93-6 vote, provides for “Amtrak reform and operational improvements,” authorizes Amtrak for the six years Fiscal 2006-2011, provides for capital assistance for states, and development of state rail plans, and includes Amtrak and passenger rail security and tunnel life/safety provisions from the Rail Security Act of 2004, which the Senate passed last year. More details about PRIIA are available on Senator Lott’s website and a detailed synopsis is also on our website.
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