Happening Now
Trump Administration’s First Budget Calls for End to National Network Trains. Join NARP in Saying: NATIONAL OR NOTHING!
March 16, 2017
Every passenger must STAND UP for trains—there are no sidelines now!
The White House released its “skinny budget”—a general budget outline with few programmatic details—early this morning. And while infrastructure investment has been a major theme of President Trump’s campaign and first 100 days, his administration’s first budget guts infrastructure spending, slashing $2.4 billion from transportation. This will jeopardize mobility for millions of Americans and endanger tens of thousands of American jobs.
Every passenger must STAND up for trains—there are no sidelines now!
The budget appears to be modeled on an outline produced by the ultra-conservative Heritage Foundation. Cuts include:
- Elimination of all federal funding for Amtrak’s national network trains, which provides the only Amtrak service to 23 states, and the only nearby Amtrak service for 144.6 million Americans;
- $499 million from the TIGER grant program, a highly successful program that invests in passenger rail and transit projects of national significance;
- Elimination of $2.3 billion for the Federal Transit Administration’s “New Starts” Capital Investment Program, which is crucial to launching new transit, commuter rail, and light-rail projects.
NARP is asking every Amtrak, subway, and commuter rail passenger to speak out today!
It’s up to Congress to turn this proposal into a real budget. Members of Congress look to see which cuts produce the most pushback from advocacy groups, local officials, and members of the public to gauge where cuts can be made. If we stay silent, these cuts will be enacted into law!
Even an email will take too long. Call now!
Read the full NARP Press Release on the proposed cuts!
"On behalf of Amtrak’s onboard service staff, I want to thank the Rail Passengers Association for honoring their hard work with this award. The past couple years have indeed been difficult for Amtrak onboard service staff – coping with furloughs and job insecurity, adapting to changing protocols and services, not to mention the unfortunate events such as a tragic derailment and a fatal shooting. Nevertheless, our dedicated members at Amtrak have handled these hurdles with the care, attention and diligence for which they’re known. We thank Rail Passengers for their acknowledgement of our members’ hard work and, as always, look forward to seeing you on the rails."
Arthur Maratea, TCU/IAM National President
December 21, 2021, on the Association awarding its 2021 Golden Spike Award to the Frontline Amtrak Employees.
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