Hotline #89-A - June 8, 1999

This morning, the House Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal 2000 transportation funding bill with Amtrak's request for $571 million and permission to spend these funds on maintenance-of-way and maintenance-of-equipment. An anticipated amendment to cut Amtrak funding in favor of the Coast Guard did not materialize, though that could still happen when the bill goes to the House floor, maybe three weeks from now. The Senate bill could go to the Senate floor before that.