Cord Byrd: “the budget resolution currently before the Senate cuts funding for Amtrak by almost 22 percent. There is no question…”

“the budget resolution currently before the Senate cuts funding for Amtrak by almost 22 percent. There is no question that this funding level will put Amtrak into bankruptcy during the next fiscal year. We must not let that happen. The bipartisan Amtrak board of directors has stated that Amtrak needs $1.8 billion next year to operate all its trains and make a minimum level of capital investment. That board includes several Republicans. This amendment that I offer with Senator Lautenberg would fund Amtrak at that $1.8 billion level. It is paid for by reducing the tax cut by just $900 million for 1 year. We need to stop having our national passenger railroad service just survive from one financial crisis to the next. We need to allow the next president of Amtrak to continue to reform Amtrak, rather than oversee its liquidation. I encourage all Senators to save rail service in this country and support this amendment.”