CLEVELAND, June 28 — The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, head of the Rainbow/Push Coalition, issued the following statement in support of Amtrak employees:
On behalf of Amtrak workers, I want to express my concern and support for the U.S. Government to grant Amtrak a federal appropriation of $1.2 billion in FY 2003 to maintain current systems into the coming years.
Nationally, Amtrak serves over 500 cities and communities across the country providing safe, efficient and affordable transportation for millions of Americans each year. With a 19% increase of passengers since 1996, they have reach a total of 23.5 million riders in 2001. Demand for rail services remains strong on both corridor and long distance trains. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 highlighted the value of the nation’s rail system to national security. In the following five months after the attack, ridership continued notwithstanding the weak economy, significant reductions in travel, and sharp declines in domestic air travel.
Amtrak rails provide clean, energy-efficient mobility, which can help reduce the heavy U.S. dependency on import oil. Travel by Amtrak uses 38% less per passenger mile than does travel by commercial airline.
The U.S. government has significantly undercapitalized the national Amtrak system for decades; they have failed to provide passengers of this rail with a dedicated secure source of funding like other modes of transportation enjoy and require Amtrak alone to acheive operation self-sufficiency. State and local governments see intercity passenger rails as an essential way to assure future mobility for the regions but need the federal government to partner with them in making the rail investments similar to the investments for highway, air and transit.
Amtrak has reached a critical point and will be forced to discontinue services nationwide unless federal funding is substantially increased above current levels. This uncertainty of whether or not they will receive appropriations means Amtrak must prepare for the possibility that it will not receive sufficient funds to stay in business. As a corporation they cannot rely on an uncertain outcome. If funding falls below Amtrak’s budget, it is highly likely that Amtrak will be discontinued and this will be a travesty.
If Amtrak ceases to exist, 24,000 workers from Amtrak plus countless venders and suppliers of Amtrak will lose their jobs.
It is imperative that we look at the circumstances and call on the U.S. government to:
1. Provide at least $1.2 billion for Amtrak in FY 2003 to sustain our national intercity passenger rail system over the next year;
2. Make a commitment to provide stable and adequate funding for the national designated high-speed rail corridors.
Keep Hope Alive!
/s/
Jesse L. Jackson Sr.