S*0630 Concurrent Resolution, By Land, Bryan, Courson, Elliott, Ford, Glover, 
Hayes, Holland, Jackson, Lander, Matthews, Mescher, Moore, O'Dell, Passailaigue, 
Patterson, Rankin, Reese, Russell, Saleeby, Setzler, J.V. Smith, H.S. Stilwell and 
Washington
 A Concurrent Resolution urging Congress not to reduce funding for Amtrack and
 to take other steps to preserve the Amtrak System.

   03/09/95  Senate Introduced SJ-10
   03/15/95  Senate Adopted, sent to House SJ-29
   03/15/95  House  Introduced HJ-57
   03/15/95  House  Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
                     Resolutions HJ-57
   03/22/95  House  Committee report: Favorable Invitations and
                     Memorial Resolutions HJ-7
   03/29/95  House  Adopted, returned to Senate with concurrence HJ-27

March 22, 1995

S. 630

Introduced by SENATORS Land, Elliott, Holland, Stilwell, Rankin, Matthews, Ford, Jackson, Reese, Lander, Moore, Mescher, Passailaigue, Glover, O'Dell, Bryan, J. Verne Smith, Courson, Setzler, Patterson, Saleeby, Washington, Russell and Hayes

S. Printed 3/22/95--H.

Read the first time March 15, 1995.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 630), urging Congress not to reduce funding for Amtrak, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

RICHARD M. QUINN, JR., for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

URGING CONGRESS NOT TO REDUCE FUNDING FOR AMTRAK AND TO TAKE OTHER STEPS TO PRESERVE THE AMTRAK SYSTEM.

Whereas, Amtrak is energy efficient and environmentally beneficial, consuming about half as much energy per passenger mile as airlines and causing less air pollution; and

Whereas, Amtrak provides mobility to citizens of many smaller communities poorly served by air and bus services, as well as to those senior citizens, disabled people, students, and persons with medical conditions preventing them from flying who need trains as a travel option; and

Whereas, Amtrak is nine times safer than driving on a passenger-mile basis and operates even in severe weather conditions; and

Whereas, Amtrak travel rose forty-eight percent from 1982 to 1993 and Amtrak dramatically improved coverage of its operating costs from revenues; and

Whereas, expansion of Amtrak service by using existing rail rights-of-way would cost less and use less land than new highways and airports and would further increase Amtrak's energy-efficiency advantage; and

Whereas, federal investment in Amtrak has fallen in the last decade while it has risen for airports and highways; and

Whereas, states may use highway trust fund money as an eighty percent federal match for a variety of nonhighway programs, but they are prohibited from using such monies for Amtrak projects; and

Whereas, Amtrak pays a fuel tax that airlines do not pay; and

Whereas, Amtrak workers and vendors pay more in taxes than the federal government invests in Amtrak. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That Congress is urged not to reduce federal funding of Amtrak.

Be it further resolved that Amtrak be excused from paying fuel taxes that airlines do not pay.

Be it further resolved that states be given the flexibility to use federal highway trust fund monies on Amtrak projects if they so choose.

Be it further resolved that federal officials include a strong Amtrak system in any plans for a national transportation system.

Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of South Carolina's Congressional Delegation, all at Washington, D.C.