House Bill 1981

    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                HM 1981

        By Representative Healey






  1                          House Memorial

  2         A memorial to the Congress of the United

  3         States, urging Congress to provide necessary

  4         funding to continue the operation of Amtrak.

  5

  6         WHEREAS, a national intermodal passenger transportation

  7  system is key to meeting the ever-increasing transportation

  8  demands of the nation, and

  9         WHEREAS, intercity rail passenger service is an

10  essential component of a national intermodal passenger

11  transportation system, and

12         WHEREAS, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation

13  (Amtrak) provides a quality transportation product in the form

14  of clean, comfortable, and on-time service, and

15         WHEREAS, Amtrak has already been forced to

16  significantly cut back its rail passenger system as a result

17  of cash shortages, and

18         WHEREAS, Amtrak is committed to operating in a

19  businesslike manner in order to adjust quickly to meet demand

20  and changing customer needs, and

21         WHEREAS, Amtrak's management and employees are

22  dedicated to providing the high-quality service that Amtrak's

23  customers deserve, and

24         WHEREAS, additional capital investment is needed to

25  acquire the modern equipment and efficient facilities that are

26  essential to satisfy the demand for superior intercity rail

27  passenger service and to provide the world-class service

28  American rail passengers deserve, and

29         WHEREAS, Amtrak's management is committed to ensuring

30  that all capital investment by the Federal Government and

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                HM 1981

    268-263-00






  1  state governments is used effectively to improve the quality

  2  of service and the long-term financial health of Amtrak, and

  3         WHEREAS, Amtrak's management and its employees are

  4  dedicated to using the collective bargaining process to reach

  5  equitable agreements that provide a sound basis for improved

  6  customer service and that contribute to the long-term

  7  viability of the corporation, and

  8         WHEREAS, states, local governments, and private parties

  9  continue to support intercity rail passenger service as an

10  essential component of the intermodal transportation network

11  in their states, and

12         WHEREAS, Amtrak provides excellent service to its

13  customers, is using its federal investment wisely and

14  efficiently, and is making significant and measurable progress

15  in improving the financial performance of intercity rail

16  passenger service, NOW, THEREFORE,

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18  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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20         That the Congress of the United States is requested to

21  provide increased federal funds to meet Amtrak's current needs

22  and future challenges to continue as the nation's premier

23  intercity rail passenger service.

24         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

25  sent to the President of the United States, the President of

26  the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States

27  House of Representatives, and to each member of the Florida

28  delegation to the United States Congress.

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