SR0404 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0404 LRB097 14075 HEP 58735 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Amtrak Illinois service has been an excellent investment in mobility for Illinois' economy for more than 30 years; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has for decades been a partner of Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, in financing additional service in Illinois beyond the national network of long-distance passenger trains; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has enjoyed a bipartisan, statewide consensus on the value of passenger train service to link the State's universities, smaller communities, suburbs, and Chicago; and

WHEREAS, With ever-increasing traffic on the State's highways, especially in the Chicago area, investing in passenger rail to alleviate automobile traffic is a prudent use of taxpayer dollars; and

WHEREAS, A robust passenger train system is an essential component of national security in the event of a mass evacuation, as demonstrated by the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly in 2006 doubled its commitment to Amtrak Illinois service, setting the nation on a path for growth in passenger rail, and has reaped doubled ridership on almost all routes in the State, sparking real estate development around train stations and frequently selling out trains; and

WHEREAS, An essential tool for rural economic development is passenger trains connecting small towns to the economic engines of large cities and universities; and

WHEREAS, The United States House of Representatives passed a budget bill that precludes the use of any federal dollars for State-supported Amtrak routes such as the Lincoln Service, the Illini, the Saluki, the Carl Sandburg, and the Hiawatha; and

WHEREAS, The provision in the House budget bill would essentially eliminate most Amtrak service in Illinois, stranding almost 2 million annual passengers; and

WHEREAS, The House budget bill woefully underfunds Amtrak and the high speed rail program; and

WHEREAS, In light of Illinois' continued robust capital and operating investment in Amtrak and high speed rail, it is particularly shortsighted for the federal government to eliminate or cut back its investment in passenger rail; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the United States Congress to fully fund Amtrak and the high speed rail program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to eliminate any provision that would reduce the federal investment in State-supported Amtrak service, as this partnership is a model to be emulated, not discouraged; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to Senators Dick Durbin, Mark Kirk and the entire congressional delegation of the State of Illinois.