Call Your Senator Today to Support the Lott-Lautenberg Amendment 2360 to S. 1516
November 2, 2005
Dear Brothers & Sisters:
Over the past few months several bills related to Amtrak funding have emerged on Capitol Hill. Despite our continuing efforts, movement on those bills has been slow, at best, due to the congressional recess, recovery efforts relative to Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita, Republican foot dragging, and the pace of bureaucratic movement in general. The BLET fully supports S. 1516, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2005, with certain modifications to Section 211, which are being addressed on the Hill through legislative lobbying.
S. 1516 was successfully reported out of committee in July but, has been stalled because of holds by the majority side due to continuing attacks and manipulation by the Bush Administration. It provides for long-term funding and debt restructuring needed to improve service and increase revenue, and is clearly the only bill acceptable to Rail Labor, as several others contain expansive reforms that would ultimately dismantle and destroy the system as we know it today and roll back the clock fifty years on labor related issues.
Without an authorization bill, Amtrak stands fully exposed to those in favor of breaking-up the current system structure and imposing stringent labor reform initiatives. None of which would be in the best interest of our Membership. This bill significantly improves our chance of achieving positive funding authorization levels absent the legislative imposition of detrimental labor reform envisioned by many in the Bush Administration and Amtrak.
It is absolutely crucial for all Members to contact their Senators immediately to voice their support for the Lott-Lautenberg Amendment. Remember, our jobs and long-term security depend on this congressional guidance in terms of Amtrak funding authorization. Please make your call...today! For contact information on your Senator, go to the web link shown below.
Fraternally yours,
Mark B. Kenny
General Chairman
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
