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Murray Statement on Administration Plan to Dismantle Amtrak

Date: April 15, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Transportation


Murray Statement on Administration Plan to Dismantle Amtrak

For Immediate Release: Friday, April 15, 2005

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today the Bush Administration finally proposed its plan for inter-city passenger rail service. Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement.

"Today the Administration unveiled a proposal that they say 'breathes new life' into Amtrak. The truth is that the Administration's budget of zero subsidies put Amtrak on the gurney and now their plan to pass the buck could kill passenger rail service across the country.

Today's proposal is long on rhetoric and short on resources. This Administration's plan for reform does nothing more than saddle our already cash-strapped states with the cost of running rail service.

Any plan for true reform should combine streamlining Amtrak with providing passengers with better service and more travel options.

Reforming Amtrak is a national responsibility, but the Administration's plan provides little federal investment."

http://murray.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=236470

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