Oppose Broun Amendment to T-HUD Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4745)
Dear Representative:
On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write to express opposition to the Broun amendment to H.R. 4745, the House FY 15 T-HUD legislation. This amendment undermines Amtrak’s ability to provide the rail service that passengers and communities have come to rely on.
Rep. Paul Broun’s amendment (R-GA) would arbitrarily cut Amtrak’s operating funding by ten percent or $34 million. The base bill already makes unacceptable cuts to Amtrak’s capital budget, endangering the efficiency of the system and delaying improvements to infrastructure and rail cars that are urgently needed. To further slash funding to Amtrak is simply irresponsible, politically motivated and simply serves as an excuse to demonize Amtrak’s hardworking onboard service employees. This amendment is particularly ill-advised at a time when Amtrak is setting ridership records year after year and recent polling shows that the railroad has broad public support across the country.
As the sole provider of national intercity passenger rail, Amtrak is in need of greater investment, not decreased funding and political assaults. Please take a stand against these dangerous cuts to Amtrak and oppose the Broun amendment.
Sincerely,
Edward Wytkind
President