Amtrak Legislation Keeps Chugging Forward

On Tuesday October 30, the Senate passed a six-year Amtrak reauthorization bill (S. 294), sponsored by Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Trent Lott (R-MS), by a 70-22 vote. Every Northeast Senator from Virginia to Maine voted for the bill except for Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH) and John Sununu (R-NH). [Senators Joe Biden (D-DE), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Chris Dodd (D-CT) all were cosponsors of the bill, but missed the vote because they were campaigning for President].

An Amtrak authorization bill last passed Congress in 1997 and expired in 2002, so this represents significant progress. Congress has been deadlocked for years on passenger rail policy and the result has been no clear mandate for Amtrak and inadequate federal funding for passenger rail. Although, majorities in both the House and Senate support Amtrak funding, the leadership of Congress and of key Committees had been strongly opposed to Amtrak funding. With the change in congressional leadership after the 2006 elections, the chairmen of the relevant authorizing and appropriations committees are Amtrak supporters for the first time in many years. There is an opportunity to develop a clear national rail policy for intercity passenger rail and set the stage for Congress and the next White House to work together to provide the funding needed to repair and improve the Northeast Corridor and develop other rail corridors in the Northeast and around the nation. Senators Lautenberg, Lott, and Carper led the charge in the Senate and will be key players in any conference with the House.

CEO Council Hosts Congressman Shuster

The CEO Council hosted Congressman Bill Shuster last month in an effort to further educate him about the importance of Amtrak and other transit in the Greater Philadelphia region. This opportunity was a result of Mark Schweiker's, President and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and CEO Council Chair, testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives' Railroad Subcommittee this past summer. The CEO Council also arranged a tour of the new Cira Center for Representative Shuster. The Senate recently passed legislation boosting Amtrak funding, as passenger rail is seen as part of the solution for global warming, traffic congestion and high oil prices.

The CEO Council for Growth

The CEO Council for Growth (CEO Council) is a group of prominent business executives committed to growth and prosperity in the 11-county region across northern Delaware , southern New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania . Through high-impact initiatives that lead to high-wage jobs, new business opportunities, and wealth creation, the CEO Council offers a focused, consistent and invigorating approach that sets the regional growth agenda. The CEO Council is an affiliate of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey and the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce.