Hotline #882 - June 16, 1995

Amtrak's future looked shakier after the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee did not finish work on its Amtrak reauthorization bill on June 14. Chairman Bud Shuster (R.-Pa.) abruptly halted the mark-up session after losing three key votes. First, a Molinari (R.-N.Y.) amendment would have reversed the subcommittee vote on labor protection and would have simply repealed the current statutory mandate of one year of labor protection for each year of service up to six years.  That also would override existing contracts. Molinari lost 36-21, with three Republicans absent and nine voting against her.

On contracting-out, the committee voted 38-22 in favor of the Quinn amendment, which the subcommittee had rejected. One Republican was absent and ten voted for Quinn.

On commuter authority payments to Amtrak for use of the Northeast Corridor, the committee voted 29-25 for a Borski (D.-Pa.) amendment that would let commuter authorities continue present payments to Amtrak. Some transit supporters, such as Mineta (D.-Cal.), were concerned that increases would come just as federal transit operating aid also is being cut. The increased payments to Amtrak would have been phased in over two years, ultimately giving Amtrak $28 million more a year. Four Republicans were absent; three Northeast Corridor Republicans voted with Borski.

Then Shuster pulled the bill from further consideration. Later word is that he will not resume the mark-up unless an agreement is reached on something he thinks can pass the full House. On June 21, the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee is to mark-up its fiscal 1996 funding bill. Chairman Frank Wolf (R.-Va.) has implied that how much money Amtrak gets will depend on how much reform there has been. As for Amtrak, therefore, Wolf is likely to send a message about the importance of reform; if he gives Amtrak any money at all in his bill it likely will be subject to passage of an authorization bill.

Before things got nasty, Chairman Shuster made clear that he does not support zeroing out Amtrak in the seventh year of the bill, as is called for in the House Budget Resolution. But he said he wanted to get Amtrak through the next few years before fighting over funding for 2002. Also, Shuster began the mark-up by saying he supports Amtrak and wants to save it, but that people who think key reforms can be avoided are "out of touch with reality, in my judgment."

Labor was out in force at the June 14 mark-up and labor thinks it won big, but it is in danger of losing the war. Please tell Republicans who voted against Chairman Shuster to take the initiative in working out something he and they can live with.

Republicans who voted against Shuster on both labor issues are Boehlert (N.Y.), Quinn (N.Y.), LaTourette (Ohio), Tate (Wash.), and Young (Alaska).

Other Republicans who voted against Shuster on labor protection were Bachus (Ala.), Franks (N.J.), Mica (Fla.), and Petri (Wis.). Others who voted against Shuster on contracting out were Blute (Mass.), Horn (Cal.), LaHood (Ill.), Weller (Ill.), and Wamp (Tenn.).

The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing today to receive testimony on the Amtrak forums. Chairman Trent Lott (R.-Miss.) again made clear that Amtrak must be a nationwide system. Amtrak President Tom Downs said May passenger revenues were up 4% from a year ago, despite service reductions.

The Senate is considering the National Highway System bill next week. Please ask your Senators to vote for the Roth amendment to give states more flexibility to spend federal transportation dollars on passenger rail.

Amtrak is running the New York-Hyannis Cape Codder again this year, again Friday up and Sunday down. The train will run June 16 through September 10.