Hotline #883 - June 23, 1995

In a big victory for our cause, the Senate approved the Roth amendment on June 21, letting states spend certain ISTEA funds on intercity passenger rail, including operations. Those funds are in the Surface Transportation Program and CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation Air Quality). The key vote was the 64-36 defeat of a motion to table the amendment. Senator Roth's amendment then was adopted on a voice vote. Yesterday, the Senate accepted on a voice vote an amendment by Senator Nickles to let three states without Amtrak service spend certain federal transit funds on passenger rail. Both amendments came during weeklong consideration of S.440, the National Highway System bill, which the Senate finally passed yesterday.

The House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee approved its 1996 funding bill on June 21.  The subcommittee is chaired by Frank Wolf (R.-Va.). Amtrak got $216 million for operations, $62 million for transition (downsizing) expenses, $120 million for excess railroad retirement and unemployment, $230 million for systemwide capital (same as this year), and $100 million for the Northeast Corridor (half of this year's amount). There was nothing for the Farley project. The Amtrak appropriation is conditioned upon passage of an authorization.

Wolf's subcommittee also approved $4 billion for transit, a 13% reduction. Transit formula grants were cut 20% and operating aid 44%. The subcommittee repealed Section 13(c), which deals with transit labor protection requirements. Aviation spending falls a slight $49 million to $8.4 billion. Highway spending rises 3%, or $500 million, to $20.4 billion.

Full committee consideration is expected June 30 and floor action July 12. On June 30, Representative Callahan (Ala.) may offer an amendment to zero out Amtrak and may pick up votes due to the labor controversy. Among the possible anti-Amtrak votes are Packard (Cal.), DeLay (Tex.), and Rogers (Ky.).

Susan Molinari (R.-Tex.), who chairs the House Railroads Subcommittee (of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee), held a news conference yesterday to emphasize that Amtrak's survival depends on resolving the labor controversies on contracting-out and severance payments. She said, "It is time for labor to sit down with me and tell me how far they are willing to go to save Amtrak." Reps. Frank Wolf (R.-Va.) and Nick Smith (R.-Mich.), who are on the Appropriations and Budget Committees, respectively, were present and strongly supported Molinari.

There are two new, hopeful signs. Reps. Norman Mineta (Cal.) and William Lipinski (Ill.), who are the Democratic leaders on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, yesterday released a letter to Chairman Bud Shuster (R.-Pa.) saying, "We are willing to work with you on possible modifications" to the labor-related provisions. According to today's Albany Times-Union, Jack Quinn (R.-N.Y.), sponsor of the controversial labor provisions, says he plans to meet next week with Molinari and Shuster. Yesterday, NARP issued a news release on this that PR NewsWire distributed widely, including to most on-line data services. Send us a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the release.

The Highway Users Federation today issued a release against the Roth amendment, in hope of influencing what the House does with the highway bill in July. President William D. Fay said, "The Highway Trust Fund shouldn't be used to finance Amtrak's six-year severance package and other labor giveaways."

The ICC will hold a public voting conference on June 27 to decide the Conrail-Amtrak case. In New Orleans, also June 27, there will be another FRA high-speed rail policy outreach meeting, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at the Westin Hotel.

The Missouri Mules resume service July 1.