[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 68 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S3410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 517--IN SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL TRAIN 
                            DAY, MAY 8, 2010

  Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. 
Lieberman, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Carper, Mr. Dorgan, 
Mr. Wyden, Mr. Burris, Mr. Bayh, and Mr. Udall of New Mexico) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 517

       Whereas on May 10, 1869, the ``golden spike'' was driven 
     into the final tie at Promontory Summit, Utah, to join the 
     Central Pacific and the Union Pacific Railroads, ceremonially 
     completing the first transcontinental railroad and therefore 
     connecting both coasts of the United States;
       Whereas in highly populated regions Amtrak trains and 
     infrastructure carry intercity passengers and commuters to 
     and from work in congested metropolitan areas, providing a 
     reliable rail option while reducing congestion on roads and 
     in the skies;
       Whereas Amtrak ridership in Fiscal Year 2009 reached 27.1 
     million passengers from 46 states;
       Whereas, for many rural Americans, Amtrak represents the 
     only major intercity transportation link to the rest of the 
     country;
       Whereas passenger rail provides a fuel-efficient 
     transportation system, thereby providing clean transportation 
     alternatives and energy security;
       Whereas, when combined with all modes of transportation, 
     passenger railroads emit only 0.2 percent of the travel 
     industry's total greenhouse gases and one freight train can 
     move a ton of freight 480 miles on one gallon of fuel;
       Whereas developing this pipeline of national high-speed and 
     intercity passenger rail projects will revitalize the 
     domestic manufacturing industry and create additional 
     American jobs building on the one million good-paying, 
     middle-class-creating American jobs that can never be off-
     shored that are already supported by the rail industry;
       Whereas ridership on Amtrak grew every year from 2000 
     through 2008, and is currently on track for 2010 to be its 
     best ridership year ever, further demonstrating the increased 
     demand for intercity passenger rail services; and
       Whereas our railroad system is a source of civic pride, the 
     gateway to our communities and a tool for economic growth 
     that creates transportation-oriented development and livable 
     communities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate supports the goals and ideals of 
     National Train Day, as designated by Amtrak.

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