Hotline #888-A - August 2, 1995

The Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee took up its version of H.R.2002, the 1996 transportation funding bill, this afternoon. The full Committee should act by the end of this week. Mark Hatfield (R.-Ore.) chairs both.

The operating figure for Amtrak came out at $185 million. This is less than half the amount Amtrak got in 1995, and $75 million less than what Amtrak says it needs for 1996, and $31 million below the level in the House version of the bill. If such a low level stays in the bill, a great amount of service cuts in 1996 seem likely. Going into conference, passenger train supporters will be put into the unusual situation of pushing for the already too low House figure, which was $216 million.

The subcommittee gave Amtrak $100 million for "transition costs;" $38 million more than in the House bill, but $50 million less than Amtrak wanted. For mandatory retirement and unemployment costs, there is $120 million; the same as the House, but $30 million less than Amtrak needs.

Capital is $200 million, which is $30 million less than in the House. The subcommittee provided more than the House in the following areas -- Northeast Corridor at $130 million, Farley Building at $25 million, high-speed rail at $25 million.

It comes as a surprise that Amtrak has done so poorly in Chairman Hatfield's subcommittee. However, he had $1.2 billion less to work with than his subcommittee had a year ago, and $300 million less than the House subcommittee had this year.

A scheduled meeting to discuss H.R.1788, the House Amtrak reauthorization bill, was abruptly canceled this morning by Chairman Shuster. Labor is continuing to push for language guaranteeing six years' labor protection to freight railroad workers. Chairman Shuster has threatened a hearing next month on shutting down Amtrak in the absence of a bill.

Elsewhere in the bill, labor would get the right to strike Amtrak 254 days after enactment. To balance that tilt towards labor, the Amtrak Board is replaced 60 days after enactment with a seven-member emergency reform board. Two members would be chosen by the President in consultation with Speaker Gingrich, and two with Majority Leader Dole. Floor action is expected after Labor Day.