Statement on Release of the President’s 2011 Budget

For Immediate Release (#10-03)

February 1, 2010

Contacts: Ross Capon, Malcolm Kenton: 202-408-8362

The National Association of Railroad Passengers issues the following statement by President & CEO Ross B. Capon after release of President Obama’s 2011 budget request:

“We commend President Obama for demonstrating an unprecedented commitment to intercity passenger trains. The Administration is off to an impressive start with the commitment of $9.3 billion for intercity passenger trains in last year’s Recovery Act, the good judgments shown in the grants to states announced January 28, and the slight increase in Amtrak funding for FY 2011 announced in the budget proposal today.

“We also commend the President for referencing high speed rail in his State of the Union address, thereby breaking an unfortunate tradition of State of the Union addresses saying nothing at all about transportation, let alone trains.

“For new grants to states for intercity passenger train development including cars and locomotives, we will be pushing to increase the FY 2011 appropriation to $4 billion. This compares with $1 billion in the President’s 2011 budget request and $2.5 billion in the regular FY 2010 appropriation. In this regard, we are partners with the organizers of the fourbillion.com coalition.”