[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 77 (Friday, June 17, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        AMERICA'S BUSIEST COMMUTER RAILROAD HAS STOPPED RUNNING

  (Mr. LEVY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEVY. Mr. Speaker, it is with regret that I rise to inform the 
House that negotiations between labor and management of the Long Island 
Rail Road have failed, that transport workers have struck, and that 
trains have stopped running. More than 254,000 daily commuters have 
been forced to find alternate transportation, and the metropolitan 
area's already overtaxed transportation infrastructure is being 
burdened further.
  This is an emergency. That is why, on a bipartisan basis, Long 
Island's five-member congressional delegation is introducing 
legislation to get the parties back to the table and to get the trains 
running again. I ask my colleagues to support that legislation.
  Strikes against America's busiest suburban commuter line wreak havoc 
on the day-to-day lives, not only of those who use the railroad, but of 
everyone who commutes between Long Island and New York City.
  In addition--and it is critical that my colleagues understand this--
when the Long Island Railroad stops running, parts of New York stop 
functioning. And, when parts of New York stop functioning, our Nation 
is crippled.
  Please support our bipartisan bill to get the Long Island Railroad 
running again.

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