HR0117 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0117 LRB094 10729 CSA 41137 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois urge the President of the United States to reinstate full funding for Amtrak; and

WHEREAS, President Bush's recently proposed budget cuts all funding for Amtrak; and

WHEREAS, Amtrak was created by Congress in 1970 to take over the passenger rail service previously operated by private freight railroad companies in the United States; and

WHEREAS, During the period from Amtrak's inception through 2003, the federal government has spent $1.89 trillion on air and highway modes while Amtrak has received just over $30 billion in federal subsidies; and

WHEREAS, Amtrak serves 500 stations in 46 states on 22,000 miles of track; and

WHEREAS, Amtrak has 20,000 employees; and

WHEREAS, Amtrak carries over 25 million passengers a year; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is home to several of the highest volume Amtrak lines; and

WHEREAS, Illinois' stations are in Alton, Bloomington/Normal, Carbondale, Chicago, Effingham, Joliet, Mattoon, Naperville, Springfield, and several other cities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that Amtrak is vital to the industry in Illinois, especially the tourist industry; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States and each member of the Illinois congressional delegation.