IV 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 252 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

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.