06.09.15

Durbin Meets with Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission to Discuss Upcoming Legislation Reauthorizing Amtrak

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – With Congress preparing to consider a legislation to reauthorize Amtrak, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with representatives from the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission to discuss the continued growth of passenger rail service, and the importance of robust federal support for our national transportation network.

  

“This year, Congress debates the future of our national transportation and infrastructure network, including Amtrak,” Durbin said. “As passenger rail continues to grow, a strong reauthorization bill that modernizes and expands our rail network is important for creating good-paying Illinois jobs and strengthening our state’s economy. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and stakeholders like the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission to produce a rail reauthorization bill that provides the necessary resources to upgrade our aging infrastructure and put America back to work.”

  

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and co-chair of the High-Speed Rail Caucus, Durbin has been a leading advocate in Congress supporting passenger rail, and has long worked to secure robust funding for Amtrak.

  

Congress is expected to take up Amtrak and Rail Safety Reauthorization later this year. This bill will have a significant impact on Illinois, which has the second largest rail network in the country with over 7,300 miles of railroad track. Durbin outlined his priorities for Illinois in the Amtrak and Rail Safety Reauthorization in a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, available here.