[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 517 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 517
In support and recognition of National Train Day, May 8, 2010.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 7, 2010
Mr. Lautenberg (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr.
Lieberman, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Carper, Mr. Dorgan,
Mr. Wyden, Mr. Burris, Mr. Bayh, and Mr. Udall of New Mexico) submitted
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
In support and recognition of National Train Day, May 8, 2010.
Whereas on May 10, 1869, the ``golden spike'' was driven into the
final tie at Promontory Summit, Utah, to join the Central
Pacific and the Union Pacific Railroads, ceremonially
completing the first transcontinental railroad and
therefore connecting both coasts of the United States;
Whereas in highly populated regions Amtrak trains and
infrastructure carry intercity passengers and commuters to
and from work in congested metropolitan areas, providing a
reliable rail option while reducing congestion on roads and
in the skies;
Whereas Amtrak ridership in Fiscal Year 2009 reached 27.1 million
passengers from 46 states;
Whereas, for many rural Americans, Amtrak represents the only major
intercity transportation link to the rest of the country;
Whereas passenger rail provides a fuel-efficient transportation
system, thereby providing clean transportation alternatives
and energy security;
Whereas, when combined with all modes of transportation, passenger
railroads emit only 0.2 percent of the travel industry's
total greenhouse gases and one freight train can move a ton
of freight 480 miles on one gallon of fuel;
Whereas developing this pipeline of national high-speed and
intercity passenger rail projects will revitalize the
domestic manufacturing industry and create additional
American jobs building on the one million good-paying,
middle-class-creating American jobs that can never be off-
shored that are already supported by the rail industry;
Whereas ridership on Amtrak grew every year from 2000 through 2008,
and is currently on track for 2010 to be its best ridership
year ever, further demonstrating the increased demand for
intercity passenger rail services; and
Whereas our railroad system is a source of civic pride, the gateway
to our communities and a tool for economic growth that
creates transportation-oriented development and livable
communities: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate supports the goals and ideals of National
Train Day, as designated by Amtrak.
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