TTD Applauds House Passage of Amtrak Reauthorization
Source: NH Labor News
Washington, DCEdward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement about the House passage of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 (PRRIA):
Today the House of Representatives took an important step to sustain Amtrak, Americas national passenger railroad. The overwhelming vote today on the floor of the House also demonstrates that the nations largest transportation challenges can be met with bipartisan cooperation and problem solving.
As transportation unions recently declared in our Executive Committee policy statement, we now have an opportunity to set in motion a long-term vision for federal passenger rail policy. We are pleased that the House has endorsed a multi-year investment for Amtrak at a time when the railroad and its workforce are dealing with rising demand and aging equipment and infrastructure. While we will continue to advocate for higher federal funding levels for Amtrak, PRRIA gives Amtrak a measure of certainty as it advances long-term modernization plans.
We are especially pleased that the House rejected an amendment that would have zeroed out Amtrak, hollowed out our only national passenger railroad, and destroyed thousands of middle-class jobs. Amtrak is an important driver of jobs and economic development and, like all areas of our transportation system, requires federal support in order to thrive. By voting against the McClintock amendment, members of Congress rejected the idea that the federal government should abdicate its responsibility to fund a key component of our national transportation system.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://nhlabornews.com/2015/03/ttd-applauds-house-passage-of-amtrak-reauthorization/
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