SR0404LRB097 14075 HEP 58735 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Amtrak Illinois service has been an excellent
3investment in mobility for Illinois' economy for more than 30
4years; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has for decades been a
6partner of Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger
7Corporation, in financing additional service in Illinois
8beyond the national network of long-distance passenger trains;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, Illinois has enjoyed a bipartisan, statewide
11consensus on the value of passenger train service to link the
12State's universities, smaller communities, suburbs, and
13Chicago; and
 
14    WHEREAS, With ever-increasing traffic on the State's
15highways, especially in the Chicago area, investing in
16passenger rail to alleviate automobile traffic is a prudent use
17of taxpayer dollars; and
 
18    WHEREAS, A robust passenger train system is an essential
19component of national security in the event of a mass
20evacuation, as demonstrated by the aftermath of the September
2111 attacks and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; and
 

 

 

SR0404- 2 -LRB097 14075 HEP 58735 r

1    WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly in 2006 doubled its
2commitment to Amtrak Illinois service, setting the nation on a
3path for growth in passenger rail, and has reaped doubled
4ridership on almost all routes in the State, sparking real
5estate development around train stations and frequently
6selling out trains; and
 
7    WHEREAS, An essential tool for rural economic development
8is passenger trains connecting small towns to the economic
9engines of large cities and universities; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The United States House of Representatives passed
11a budget bill that precludes the use of any federal dollars for
12State-supported Amtrak routes such as the Lincoln Service, the
13Illini, the Saluki, the Carl Sandburg, and the Hiawatha; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The provision in the House budget bill would
15essentially eliminate most Amtrak service in Illinois,
16stranding almost 2 million annual passengers; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The House budget bill woefully underfunds Amtrak
18and the high speed rail program; and
 
19    WHEREAS, In light of Illinois' continued robust capital and
20operating investment in Amtrak and high speed rail, it is

 

 

SR0404- 3 -LRB097 14075 HEP 58735 r

1particularly shortsighted for the federal government to
2eliminate or cut back its investment in passenger rail;
3therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the United
6States Congress to fully fund Amtrak and the high speed rail
7program; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to
9eliminate any provision that would reduce the federal
10investment in State-supported Amtrak service, as this
11partnership is a model to be emulated, not discouraged; and be
12it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to
14Senators Dick Durbin, Mark Kirk and the entire congressional
15delegation of the State of Illinois.