[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 89 (Friday, June 28, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   THE NEED TO SUPPORT PASSENGER RAIL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL R. McNULTY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2002

  Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, while the other countries of the 
industrialized world continue to support passenger rail services with 
`High Speed' and `Bullet' trains, the current Administration continues 
to nickel and dime Amtrak.
  Last fall, this Administration and this Congress came to the rescue 
of our airline industry to the tune of $15 billion. But when Amtrak 
asks for little more than I percent of that to cover its short term 
operating costs, the President hesitates.
  This Administration is proposing retroactive repeal of the 
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), sending $25 billion in rebate checks to 
the richest corporations in the world. The rebate check to IBM alone 
would be $1.4 billion. That one check would keep the trains moving in 
America for all of next year.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a disgrace!
  The Administration should immediately release the funds necessary to 
keep Amtrak in service.

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