(The TTD posted the following news release to its website on June 25.)
WASHINGTON — The following statement was issued today by Sonny Hall, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, in response to today’s House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s mark-up of H.R. 2572, a three-year reauthorization of Amtrak, and H.R. 2571, supporting a 10-year development of high speed rail.
“Today marks a giant step forward for passenger rail in America and for our nation’s economy.
“The two bills approved today by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are important first steps toward strengthening our nation’s commitment to passenger rail. By adopting legislation authorizing a minimum of $2 billion annually over the next three years for Amtrak, the Committee unequivocally declared that Amtrak is a vital part of our nation’s transportation system and set in motion long-overdue improvements in Amtrak’s infrastructure and service. The committee’s action was a decision to invest in Amtrak and make it a success, rather than perpetuate the myth that Amtrak can exist without subsidy, a standard we ask of no other part of our transportation system to meet. I hope today is the beginning of better days for Amtrak and its employees.
“The RIDE-21 legislation (H.R. 2571) lays out a bold framework for the development of the next generation of high speed rail, an investment that will reap untold benefits for our nation’s travelers and communities. It opens the door to using new technologies to improve our transportation and our economy.
“These two important bills strongly recognize the contributions of the men and women who operate, build, and maintain our nation’s railroads. The proposals will create good jobs in a struggling economy, and treat workers with the respect and dignity they have earned and deserve.
“As transportation workers prepare to mobilize to secure Amtrak’s long-term future, we will continue to insist that Amtrak management addresses the needs of its workers, employees who not only earn over 20 percent less those in freight and commuter rail, but have also gone several years without new contracts.
“I applaud the outstanding leadership of Committee Chair Don Young and Ranking Member James Oberstar, and urge the full House to move swiftly on these two critical bills.”
TTD represents 35 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit www.ttd.org.