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Amtrak Reauthorization and Funding (H.R. 749)


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 11 February 2015 - 10:36 PM

Railway Age, 2/10:
 

Second attempt at PRRIA launched

 

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has introduced H.R. 749, the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 (PRRIA). The bill, identical to legislation introduced in 2014 by T&I, is described as “bipartisan legislation that improves the infrastructure, reduces costs, creates greater accountability and transparency, leverages private sector resources, and accelerates project delivery for Amtrak and the nation’s passenger rail transportation system.”

 

The 2014 bill never gained traction out of Committee, but with Republicans controlling both houses of Congress, Capitol Hill observers say the 2015 version has a better chance of advancing.

 

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#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 13 February 2015 - 07:09 AM

The Hill, 2/12:
 

Panel approves $7.8 billion for Amtrak

 

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday quietly approved nearly $8 billion in funding for Amtrak.

 

The measure calls for spending approximately $1.7 billion annually over the next four years on the rail service, a slight increase from the present level of funding.

 

Prior Amtrak funding debates in Washington have been contentious affairs, but lawmakers said this year's bill — which was approved unanimously — is fair to both supporters and critics of the national rail service.

 

"This is a good reform bill that firmly moves passenger rail towards greater transparency and accountability, and forces Amtrak to operate like a true business,” House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) said in a statement after the bill's passage.

 

The top ranking Democrat on the Transportation panel said he agreed with the chairman's assessment.

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#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 14 February 2015 - 12:27 PM

NJ.com, 2/12:
 

What's raised in Amtrak's Northeast Corridor should stay in the northeast, House panel says

 

WASHINGTON — If a U.S. House committee has its way, Amtrak's Northeast Corridor profits would be used to improve that service rather than subsidize other lines.

 

The changes to Amtrak's operations were included in legislation passed today by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. It comes as Amtrak faces the need to repair its century-old Hudson River tunnels damaged during Hurricane Sandy.

 

"When you upgrade the infrastructure, when you provide reliable service at faster speeds, people will ride the rails," said committee chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.).

 

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#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 03 March 2015 - 10:02 PM

The Hill, 3/3:

 

Amtrak vote bumped by DHS bill

 

The House has pushed back a vote on a nearly a nearly $8 billion funding bill for Amtrak that was scheduled for a final taplly on Tuesday. 

 

The measure, which provides Amtrak about $1.7 billion per year for the next four years, was bumped by a controversial vote on a funding measure for the Department of Homeland Security. 

 

The House is now expected to vote on the Amtrak funding bill on Wednesday.

 

SNIP

 

The Amtrak funding measure provides about $982 million per year for the company's national network and another $470 million annually for its popular Northeast U.S. routes.

 

The bill, which would expire in 2019, appropriates another $300 million per year for construction on Amtrak routes in the rest of country and about $24 million per year for the company's inspector general.

 

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#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 04 March 2015 - 09:11 AM

Virginians for High Speed Rail "URGENT" email, 3/4:

 

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About | Donate | Members

Dear Ross:

Today, the House House of Representatives will vote on HR 749, the bi-partisan Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act, which also authorizes Amtrak funding. Before the vote, anti-rail opponents introduced an amendment that will cut all funding for Amtrak. These extreme legislators, supported by outside groups, want to decimate our national passenger rail network.

Virginia's Amtrak trains connect 77 percent of our population, 80 percent of our jobs, 84 percent of our college students, and nearly 10 percent of our Nation's armed forces. Last year alone, they took over 184 million potential vehicle miles off the Commonwealth's road network. 

Tell your representative to stand up for Amtrak and vote "NO" on amendements to H.R. 749. It is critical that the anti-Amtrak lobby doesn’t succeed.

Thank you for your support!

Regards,

Danny Plaugher
Executive Director

PS: Also visit us online at www.vhsr.com/donate to donate to our work promoting and protecting Virginia's intercity passenger rail trains!

 
 
I've sent my Representative (Gerry Connolly) an email;  has your Representative heard your voice?
 
The link can be used by anybody to quickly send an email; it is not state specific and you can edit the "boiler plate" provided by VHSR.


#6 CNJRoss

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Posted 04 March 2015 - 04:42 PM

The Hill. posted 3/4 3:16 pm:

 
House passes $8B Amtrak funding bill

The House passed legislation Wednesday to authorize nearly $8 billion in funding for Amtrak.

 

Democrats helped push the bipartisan measure, which the White House supports, to passage by a 316-101 vote. All of the votes against come from Republicans after two influential conservative groups, Heritage Action and the Club for Growth, urged lawmakers to oppose the bill.

 

The 101 lawmakers who voted against the bill were mostly hard-line conservatives, including Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Tim Huelskamp (Kan.), Justin Amash (Mich.), Mick Mulvaney (S.C.) and Matt Salmon (Ariz.).

 

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#7 CNJRoss

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Posted 04 March 2015 - 05:55 PM

Virginians for High Speed Rail email, 3/4:

 

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About | Donate | Members

Dear Ross:

Thank you to everyone who contacted their member of Congress today to oppose the amendment to HR 749, the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act, which eliminated all funding for Amtrak. A strong bi-partisan coalition from Virginia helped to defeat the amendment, and every member of the House of Representatives from the Commonwealth except Congressman David Brat voted to pass HR 749! We especially want to thank Representatives Beyer, Comstock, Connolly, Griffith, Scott, Rigell, and Wittman for voting against the bad amendment and voting to pass this legislation.

Again, thank you to everyone who took action today. Your efforts made a difference! 

Regards,

Danny Plaugher
Executive Director

PS: Also visit us online at www.vhsr.com/donate to donate to our work promoting and protecting Virginia's intercity passenger rail trains!

Virginians for High Speed Rail
5101 Monument Ave.
Richmond, Virginia 23230

You are subscribed to this organization's email list as ross.kudlick@gmail.com. If you did not subscribe, or would no longer like to receive email updates, unsubscribe here.



#8 CNJRoss

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Posted 04 March 2015 - 08:52 PM

USA Today via The Journal News, White Plains, NY, posted 3/4:

 
House approves railroad reforms

WASHINGTON – The House overwhelmingly approved bipartisan legislation Wednesday that would reform federal assistance for Amtrak and commuter passenger rail service, after beating back a proposal to end all federal financial support.

 

That's welcome news for Metro-North, which recently experienced a fatal train accident that killed six people in Valhalla.

"This is truly a reform bill,'' said Republican Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "It is going to make Amtrak more transparent.''

 

SNIP

 

The bill passed 316-101 after lawmakers rejected an amendment by Republican Rep. Tom McClintock of California that proposed ending the $1.4 billion in annual aid to passenger rail. That vote was 184-232.

 

SNIP

 

Under the legislation, commuter railroads would be eligible for federal loans — from the $35 billion Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program — to install accident-avoidance technology and safety improvements at grade-crossings. The expensive accident-avoidance technology, known as positive train controls, must be installed by the end of the year, but many railroads won't be able to meet that deadline.

 

Under the legislation, Amtrak would have to establish a separate Northeast Corridor Improvement Fund to prevent revenue earned by the profitable Washington-to-Boston service from being used to subsidize money-losing long-distance routes.

 

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#9 EvergreenRailfan

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Posted 05 March 2015 - 06:42 AM

I only learned about the amendments last night, wonder if it was done to avoid comments from constituents? Good to see the controversial amendments fail and the bill passed.

#10 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 March 2015 - 11:21 PM

StreetsBLOG USA, 3/5:

 

What’s New in the House Amtrak Bill?

by Angie Schmitt

Screen-Shot-2015-03-05-at-2.28.41-PM.png

Advocates for bikes aboard trains consider this bill a victory. Image via Adventure Cycling Association

 

 

In what’s being called a “rare burst of bipartisanship,” the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill yesterday reauthorizing Amtrak funding for four years at its current levels.

 

Despite a last-minute, Koch brothers-backed push to eliminate funding for the railroad completely, the House advanced its bill to provide Amtrak with $1.7 billion annually for four years. It’s not the funding boost rail advocates were hoping for, but it’s not a setback either, keeping funding fairly steady.

 

The bill also contains a few interesting amendments that seek to make the nation’s intercity rail carrier more efficient and passenger-friendly.

 

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