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November 23, 2004Dear Mr. Toy:
Thank you for contacting me to express your thoughts about Amtrak funding. Your interest and involvement are important to me and I welcome the opportunity to respond.
Amtrak not only provides a convenient, inexpensive transportation option for many Americans, but it also forms a crucial part of our transportation infrastructure. Although Amtrak operates at a deficit, as do
most passenger rail systems around the world, it does not consume a disproportionate share of federal transportation dollars given the service it
provides. I have received countless letters from constituents describing their enjoyment of trips on the Coast Starlight, California Zephyr, and other routes.
The President's Fiscal Year 2005 budget proposal includes only $900 million for Amtrak. This number is about half of what Amtrak President and CEO David Gunn has said Amtrak needs in 2005 in order to sustain full operations and to provide for the safety and security of passengers. This is also less than the $1.2 billion Congress provided for Amtrak in 2004. As the Congress finalizes negotiations on the Fiscal Year 2005 Appropriations bills, I will certainly continue to be supportive of
funding Amtrak at a level that will keep our nation's passenger rail service intact.
Once again, thank you for your letter. I hope you will continue to keep in touch on issues of importance to you. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. staff at (202) 224-3841.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
http://feinstein.senate.gov
Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the
Nation are available at my website http://feinstein.senate.gov. You can also
receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at http://feinstein.senate.gov/issue.html.[/QUOTE]
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