    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [December 2, 1997]
    [Page 1691]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1691]]

    Statement on Signing the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997
    December 2, 1997

        Today I am pleased to sign into law S. 738, the ``Amtrak Reform and
    Accountability Act of 1997.'' This Act represents the first Amtrak
    reauthorization since 1992 and the most comprehensive restructuring of
    Amtrak since the early 1980s. Amtrak is a significant component of our
    national transportation services in densely populated corridors, such as
    the northeast; on medium- and short-haul routes; and on transcontinental
    routes linking cities across the Nation. In many areas of rural America
    it is the only alternative to the automobile. With the enactment of this
    legislation, we have the opportunity to set Amtrak on a course to
    continue these services into the 21st Century.
        Amtrak has entered a critical stage in its existence. Over the past
    several years, Amtrak has restructured its operations and streamlined
    its approach to inter-city rail passenger service. It has improved its
    organization and created separate strategic business units that are
    better able to respond to customer needs. It has also significantly
    reduced its need for Federal operating subsidies. Today, Amtrak recovers
    a higher percentage of its operating costs from fares--85.1 percent--
    than any other passenger or commuter railroad in America, and higher
    than the rail systems in France and Germany. This Act will allow Amtrak
    to build upon this progress.
        With this Act, Amtrak will now be able to access the $2.3 billion
    capital account created in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. With these
    funds, Amtrak will be able to make many needed capital improvements,
    including replacing its aging car fleet, upgrading its tracks, and
    rehabilitating stations and maintenance facilities nationwide. With
    these improvements in place, Amtrak will be able to attract new
    customers and better serve existing customers. The implementation of new
    high-speed operations in the northeast corridor between Boston and
    Washington is a key part of this greatly improved service.
        This Act will also free Amtrak to operate in a more businesslike
    manner by repealing a number of outdated requirements that hampered its
    ability to operate more like a private entrepreneurial corporation. In
    particular, S. 738 frees Amtrak to adjust its route structure to meet
    demand and to respond to competition rather than to congressional
    directive.
        The Act also addresses certain labor relations issues by directing
    that these issues be negotiated by Amtrak and its unions through
    collective bargaining, rather than by statute. In this respect, it
    carries forward the spirit of the reform-oriented labor agreement
    recently agreed to by Amtrak and one of its unions.
        This Act calls for the creation of an Amtrak Reform Council that
    will bring together individuals with expertise in the fields of
    corporate management, finance, rail and other transportation operations,
    labor, economics, and law to assist Amtrak in identifying how to operate
    more efficiently and effectively.
        As a result of these changes, we can all look forward to better rail
    service. I recognize that this Act represents a compromise of a number
    of competing concerns and competing visions for Amtrak and its future. I
    want to compliment the Senators and Representatives who devoted many
    hours to developing this needed legislation. I also want to commend the
    many individuals in the Department of Transportation and other Federal
    agencies who contributed to the development of this Act.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    December 2, 1997.

    Note: S. 738, approved December 2, was assigned Public Law No. 105-134.