Durbin Meets with Mayor of Macomb
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Macomb, Illinois Mayor Mike Inman. In today’s meeting Durbin and Inman discussed the importance of continued federal transportation investment to stimulate economic growth and the need to repair aging infrastructure to revitalize communities.
“I was pleased to welcome Macomb Mayor Mike Inman to Washington today to discuss the city’s transportation priorities,” Durbin said. “This week, I am working in the Senate to protect funding for important projects in the region, including efforts to keep Amtrak service reliable and affordable.”
The U.S. Senate is currently considering a bill to fund the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the 2014 fiscal year that includes $1.45 billion in funding for Amtrak. By providing adequate funding to Amtrak, more than 500 communities in 46 states across the country will continue to see improved passenger rail service. Unfortunately, a similar bill passed by the House Appropriations Committee last month would drastically cut, by 34%, the account Amtrak uses to conduct critical safety- improvements, inspections and maintenance, and increase capacity and efficiency of the nationwide system.
Later today, Durbin will meet with former Macomb Mayor and current member of the Amtrak Board of Directors, Tom Carper who was recently re-nominated by President Barack Obama to serve on the Amtrak Board.