[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 252 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 252

         Supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 5, 2011

  Ms. Brown of Florida (for herself and Ms. Slaughter) submitted the 
     following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                   Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
         Supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day.

Whereas in 1830, the Nation's first passenger and freight railroad, the 
        Baltimore & Ohio, revolutionized transportation in the United States;
Whereas on May 10, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, the golden spike was driven 
        into the final tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and 
        Union Pacific railways, transforming America by creating the Nation's 
        first transcontinental railroad;
Whereas on October 30, 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the Rail Passenger 
        Service Act, setting Amtrak's transition date to May 1, 1971;
Whereas on May 1, 1971, Amtrak's service as America's Passenger Railroad began;
Whereas Amtrak serves 46 States, operates 305 weekday trains, provides services 
        for 15 State-supported routes and corridors, operates 4 commuter 
        services, and provides services or access for 10 others;
Whereas community railroad stations are a source of civic pride, a gateway to 
        over 500 of our Nation's communities, and a tool for economic growth;
Whereas for many rural Americans, Amtrak represents the only major intercity 
        transportation link to the rest of the country;
Whereas with the enactment of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act 
        of 2008 in the 110th Congress and the American Recovery and Reinvestment 
        Act of 2009 in the 111th Congress, Congress charted a new course for 
        Amtrak and for the development of high-speed and intercity passenger 
        rail in the United States;
Whereas these and other continued investments have helped to develop a national 
        high-speed and intercity passenger rail system;
Whereas Amtrak will continue to revitalize passenger rail service by working 
        with States and others on the development of the next generation of 
        high-speed and intercity passenger rail trains, which will create good 
        jobs in the United States by resurrecting the domestic manufacturing 
        base;
Whereas Amtrak operates the Acela, the fastest high-speed rail train in North 
        America, which has carried 25 million passengers since its inception 
        almost 10 years ago and has reshaped and redefined the air/rail share 
        travel market;
Whereas Amtrak ridership grew more than 36% between 2000 and 2010, and the 
        railroad carried 28.7 million passengers in 2010, making it the best 
        year in the company's history; and
Whereas Amtrak has designated May 7, 2011, as National Train Day to celebrate 
        America's love for trains and Amtrak's 40th Anniversary: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the important contributions that trains and 
        Amtrak make to the national transportation system;
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Train Day as 
        designated by Amtrak; and
            (3) urges the people of the United States to recognize such 
        a day as an opportunity to celebrate passenger rail and learn 
        more about trains.
                                 <all>