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Congressman Jack Quinn (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Railroads, is a self described "unabashed Amtrak supporter." Quinn last month was guiding through the House a bill that would provide Amtrak with a one-year, 11.2 billion infusion to keep the ailing carrier afloat until a permanent fix can be devised.
Meanwhile, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on April 18 approved a bill sponsored by Chairman Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.) that would provide Amtrak with $4.6 billion per year over five years. Quinn's short-- term solution may have a better chance of landing on President Bush's desk.
I spoke with Jack Quinn, who comes from a railroading family, about several issues affecting the industry and Amtrak at the Railway Progress Institute Passenger Legislative Committee Retreat last month. Here's what he had to say:
What do you hope to accomplish with the $1.2 billion? "Any kind of short-term solution for Amtrak is just a temporary fix. A multi-year plan would be ideal, but I'm not so certain that will happen in the short number of legislative days Congress has left this year, an election year. We've tried to come up with the best short-term solution...