Cord Byrd: “this amendment adds $550 million to the fiscal year 2007 budget for Amtrak. All aboard for Amtrak. Amtrak. The Bush…”

“this amendment adds $550 million to the fiscal year 2007 budget for Amtrak. All aboard for Amtrak. Amtrak. The Bush administration's budget for the coming year assumes that Amtrak will be handed a funding cut of almost $400 million--a whopping cut of more than 30 percent. As in past years, there is absolutely no inherent logic underlying this budget request. Every observer who has testified before the Congress regarding Amtrak's financial needs has concluded that dramatic cuts--dramatic cuts--of this kind would result in Amtrak being thrown into bankruptcy, endangering rail service in every region of the Nation, including the Northeast corridor. Amtrak is not just a high-speed train service for the residents of Boston, MA, New York City, and Washington, DC. Amtrak is also a network that links cities such as Portland, ME, and Wells, ME, with that Northeast corridor. It also links communities such as Prince, in Raleigh County, WV, with cities such as Cincinnati, OH. It connects White Fish, MT, with St. Cloud, MN. It connects rural America with the central transportation and economic networks of our country. This amendment would restore Amtrak's funding to the level of $1.45 billion. This funding level stands some $150 million higher than the current funding level. However, it also is $150 million below the level that has been requested by Amtrak's board of directors.…”