Arlen Specter: “this amendment would restore Amtrak's eligibility to continue leasing vehicles from the General Services…”

“this amendment would restore Amtrak's eligibility to continue leasing vehicles from the General Services Administration's Interagency Fleet Management System. The Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997 inadvertently removed this eligibility. By way of further explanation, in the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997, Amtrak was removed from the list of ``mixed ownership and government corporations.'' An inadvertent and unintended consequence of this change was brought to Amtrak's attention earlier this spring. The Federal Railroad Administration questioned Amtrak's eligibility to continue leasing automobiles from the General Services Administration's Interagency Fleet Management System. The Federal Railroad Administration and General Services Administration agreed that Amtrak was no longer eligible. As a result of this inadvertent change, there is a fleet of some 1,650 vehicles for which Amtrak currently pays $10 million to lease through the General Services Administration. If Amtrak is forced to lease its vehicles privately, it will cost a total of $25 million annually. The Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act was intended to allow Amtrak to transition to operating self-sufficiency. This legislation was not intended to put new financial burdens on the corporation, which is in a transition to operating self-sufficiency.”