Sean Patrick Maloney: “Amtrak is an institution that we must preserve. Now is not the time to turn our backs, and deny the emergency aid that…”

“Amtrak is an institution that we must preserve. Now is not the time to turn our backs, and deny the emergency aid that we need to keep this service running. Amtrak officially began service on May 1, 1971, when Clocker no. 235 departed New York's Penn Station at 12:05 a.m. bound for Philadelphia. This very same route is traversed by Amtrak trains several times daily, transporting thousands of passengers who depend on this service. Mr. Speaker, as you well know, Amtrak has announced the imminent shut-down of operations to begin in one week. Amtrak is our national passenger rail service. I have joined the effort by signing a letter to the Appropriators asking for $200 million in supplemental appropriations in order to keep Amtrak in business. Were Amtrak to shut down, the consequences would be far more widespread than merely affecting long-range service. This shut down would be disastrous to commuters, as such commuter lines as Virginia Railway Express and MARC in the Washington DC area, and Shoreline East in Connecticut, all operate on Amtrak tracks and use Amtrak crews. Each day, 60,000 passengers travel on Amtrak, and 24,000 travel between New York and Washington, DC alone. The entire Northeast Corridor would be crippled by a shutdown of Amtrak service. Mr. Speaker, when service first began in 1971, Amtrak had merely 25 employees. Today, Amtrak provides employment for over 24,000 workers. Amtrak's future is an issue that must be resolved.”