MEDIA ADVISORY: House Appropriations Committee: No Change for Amtrak

June 6, 2006

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Washington, D.C.—This evening the House Appropriations Committee approved its Transportation/Treasury/HUD/Judiciary/District of Columbia appropriations bill, rejecting on voice votes two amendments which would have lifted Amtrak funding above President Bush’s requested $900 million level, widely regarded as a shutdown level.

Rep. John Olver (MA), top Democrat on the relevant subcommittee offered an amendment that would have increased Amtrak funding by $400 million. It was part of a $1.7 billion amendment, the balance of which was for housing programs. As Olver put it, these increases would be paid for by increasing taxes on each millionaire by $4,700.

Later, Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY) offered an Amtrak-specific amendment which would have increased Amtrak by $291 million. Sweeney said Congress asked Amtrak to reform “and they have,” citing improved accounting procedures, restructuring of dining car staffing, and improvement of business practices.

He said, “We need to push forward on this discussion,” noting that Amtrak reduces dependence on foreign oil. He cited Oak Ridge National Laboratory statistics indicating Amtrak is 18% more energy efficient per passenger-mile than airlines, 17% than automobiles. He also cited Amtrak’s importance in the wake of 9/11. He said the Northeast would “suffer incredible economic strife if Amtrak shuts down.”

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) also spoke in favor of Amtrak, noting that the bill currently falls $698 million short of what the Amtrak board says it needs. She also rebutted the impression that Amtrak is giving away tickets, saying Amtrak’s yield (revenue per passenger mile) has risen every year save one since 1994, with the 2005 yield 65% higher than that in 1994.

Once again, however, the offsets were unacceptable, both to Olver and Subcommittee Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI). Sweeney said the offsets involved administrative expenses. Olver said he would oppose the amendment, reluctantly. Knollenberg said Sweeney’s offsets “would tear this bill apart,” taking $50 million from the Judiciary, $11 million from Federal Transit Administration and $5 million from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The next step in the funding process will be on the House floor, where at least the bill arrives with more for Amtrak than was the case a year ago—$900 million vs. $550 million.

See our release on the identical outcome from the subcommittee markup and our recent appropriations statements here on our website.