HR0853 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Governor's Travel Control Board has negotiated a State rate for travel on Amtrak by State officials and employees between Chicago and Springfield, Bloomington-Normal, Carbondale, Champaign-Urbana, and Macomb; and

WHEREAS, The Governor's Travel Control Board has extended this State rate for travel on Amtrak to public university employees as well; and

WHEREAS, This State rate has over the years saved taxpayer money and benefited the development of a vibrant passenger rail network throughout Illinois by encouraging the use of trains by those traveling on State and university business; and

WHEREAS, There are tens of thousands of students at public universities who are grappling with the cost of higher education who regularly travel on corridors served by Amtrak; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of students work at our public universities in order to pay for tuition; and

WHEREAS, A negotiated rate for student employees of State universities for Amtrak travel would encourage more use of Amtrak and help to make higher education more affordable; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we strongly urge the Governor's Travel Control Board to negotiate with Amtrak for the implementation of a special travel rate for part-time student employees of State universities between Chicago and the cities of Bloomington-Normal, Carbondale, Mattoon, Champaign-Urbana, and Macomb; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the Governor's Travel Control Board.