CLEVELAND, September 15 — BLET members are urged to contact their Senators and ask them to increase the funding for high-speed rail to the level in the legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in July.
The U.S. Senate is currently debating the Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations legislation for the Department of Transportation (H.R. 3288). The House appropriated $4 billion for high speed rail, while the Senate’s legislation currently only appropriates $1.2 billion.
These figures are separate from the $8 billion for high speed rail contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Ask your Senators to appropriate $4 billion on high speed rail next fiscal year and to fully fund Amtrak. Go to www.senate.gov to find your Senators and call them today!