Amtrak News Updates from Amtrak Conductor Dave Bowe.
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 22:53:06 -0400 (EDT) From: UTU1462@aol.com Subject: IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES 7/18 IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES ARE: 1) To get Republican members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to support a likely Lautenberg amendment to add up to $60 million to Amtrak's mandatory payments category at the full committee markup Tuesday afternoon - July 22nd. Those who voted with Amtrak June 27th may be the most sympathetic. Please begin by thanking them for that vote: Stevens (AK), Cochran (MS), Specter (PA), Domenici (NM), McConnell (KY), Burns (MT), Bennett (UT), Campbell (CO), Faircloth (NC) and Hutchison (TX). [This is not to say ignore the issue if your senator is a Democratic committee member, only most Republican members probably need to hear more from constituents on this issue.] 2) To get Democratic members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to support Shuster's Amtrak reform bill (as early as today, Shuster could introduce a bill similar to the one passed in 1995) even though some rail labor interests now oppose what they agreed to in 1995. [Again, Republicans--especially those with pro-labor records--also need to hear from rail passenger supporters.] There are now 70 cosponsors of HR.1437, the half-cent legislation in the House. The latest cosponsors are: Rep McNulty (D-NY) - 07/11/97 Rep English (R-PA) - 07/11/97 Rep DeGette (D-CO) - 07/11/97 The toll free number to Capitol Hill has been disconnected. To reach the Congressional switchboard call: 1-202-224-3121. REGARDS, DAVE BOWE BOSTON