BMWED LEGISLATIVE ISSUES – 110th Congress

October-November 2007

Amtrak Funding FY 08

Conferees reached agreement on a $105.9 billion fiscal 2008 Transportation-HUD spending bill on November 8. The agreement would appropriate $40.2 billion for highway programs, $1.45 billion for Amtrak and $9.65 billion for transit.

Conferees also included language that would prevent the Administration from proceeding with a controversial program allowing Mexican trucks to operate more than 25 miles into the United States. The IBT has long fought against cross border trucking.

The bill could see floor action the week before Thanksgiving. A veto threat has been issued by the White House due to what it described as excessive spending.

 

Amtrak Authorization and Overhaul

By a margin of 70-22, the Senate passed a $11.4 billion bill (S 294) to keep Amtrak running over the next six years. The Lautenberg-Lott bill passed on Oct. 30 authorizes $3.3 billion in operating subsidies and $4.9 billion for capital grants, including $1.4 billion to states for intercity passenger rail upgrades. Approximately $1.9 billion of federal funds would be authorized per year for six years.

The bill also authorizes programs to improve rail security and implement operational changes, including establishing a more transparent financial accounting system. It would direct the federal government to refinance Amtrak’s $3 billion debt.

The Bush Administration made it clear it will not fund Amtrak at the $11.4 billion level authorized under the legislation. The Administration sought only $300 million for Amtrak operating costs and $500 million for infrastructure needs for FY 2008. Both the House and Senate have passed transportation spending bills for FY 2008 directing about $1.4 billion to Amtrak.

The bill next goes to the House for consideration.


Rail Safety

The House overwhelmingly passed the Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007 (HR 2095) by a vote of 377-38 on Oct. 17. The bill would authorize $1.1 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration over four years, reorganize the agency and rename it the Federal Railroad Safety Administration.

Two important provisions included in the bill are the elimination of camp cars, and a decrease in “limbo time,” the time that engineers and trainmen must wait after their regular shift is over before they are transported back to where they started.

The Bush Administration strongly opposes the House version of the bill saying several provisions are unnecessary, too costly or disruptive. They single out the elimination of limbo time, the installation of signals in dark, or unsignaled territory, and positive train control requirements.

We will monitor the bill as it goes to the Senate to ensure that these provisions are not stripped.

BLET Vice President and National Legislative Director John Tolman testified Oct. 25 at an oversight hearing before the House T&I Committee on harassment and intimidation of railroad workers and the impact this behavior has on safety. Several railroad workers also testified. All experienced harassment and intimidation after being injured on the job. All were fired from railroad service.

BMWED LEGISLATIVE ISSUES B 110th Congress
October-November 2007