The Republican omnibus FY03 appropriations bill is on the Senate floor
today. Associated Press confirms that it includes $763 million for
Amtrak, about the same as the "shutdown" level as the House committee
approved last year.

Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee
on Transportation, plans to offer an amendment to restore Amtrak funding
to the $1.2 billion which David Gunn says is the minimum Amtrak needs,
and which the full committee approved last year.

The Amtrak amendment is expected to be the third amendment considered
and could come up some time this afternoon or this evening. Starting at
noon, the Senate is expected to consider a Byrd (D-WV) amendment
restoring $5 billion to homeland security funding, and then move to an
amendment that would restore education funding.

The Capitol Hill switchboard, which can reach all Hill offices, is
202/224-3121. More contact information is at www.narprail.org -- but
time is short, so phone and perhaps fax are the best ways to
communicate.

--Ross B. Capon,
NARP Executive Director



Erin E. Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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