(The Associated Press circulated the following article on January 17.)
WASHINGTON — Senators Frank Lautenberg and Trent Lott have introduced a bill that sets ambitious funding targets for Amtrak and calls for some changes at the passenger railroad.
Lautenberg, a New Jersey Democrat, and Lott, a Mississippi Republican, announced the legislation at a news conference yesterday (Tuesday) with Amtrak officials.
The bill is similar to one they introduced last year. That one passed 93 to six in the Senate, but was never voted on in the House.
The legislation would authorize three-point-two (b) billion dollars a year for Amtrak for the next six years. About one-point-three (b) billion dollars of that would come from bonds. Some of the money would take the form of matching funds to encourage state investment in Amtrak service.
The bill also calls on Amtrak to reduce operating expenses by 40 percent and make other changes.
Amtrak supporters believe the bill has a good chance this year now that Democrats are in charge of Congress.