Kay Bailey Hutchison: “Amtrak is at a crisis point. Actually, it faces two crises: a strike and the financial crisis brought about by failure…”

“Amtrak is at a crisis point. Actually, it faces two crises: a strike and the financial crisis brought about by failure to reform the railroad. Reform is a prerequisite to accessing the much-needed capital Congress provided for the railroad in the Balanced Budget bill. Congress decided when that bill was passed that it did not make sense to provide that money unless the railroad was able to act more like a business. I strongly support intercity passenger rail but believe that reform is essential before putting this major financial commitment in place. First, and most immediately, Amtrak is facing a possible national shut down because of an impasse between the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE) and Amtrak over wages and work rules. At question is Amtrak's ability to pay for any increase in wages during the difficult financial times the railroad is currently going through. Using the Railway Labor Act, the President has named a Presidential Emergency Board to recommend a solution to the dispute. It concluded its investigation and made its recommendations. The parties are now in a 30 day 'cooling off' period to consider the recommendations. If no agreement is reached by the end of this period, which falls on October 22nd, we could have a strike or a management 'lockout of employees'. Either action would have the effect of shutting down all commuter operations, as well as other services, across the country.”