Letter sent to President Clinton from Thomas J. Vilsack, 
Governor of Iowa, supporting H.R. 4844

October 16, 2000

The Honorable William J. Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20502

Dear President Clinton:

I am writing to request your support for the Railroad Retirement Survivors' Improvement Act of 2000, H.R 4844.

The entire Iowa Congressional delegation has committed support for this legislation.  The bill has received strong bipartisan support as evidenced in the 391 to 25 vote for passage in the House of Representatives.  More than eighty Senators have signed a letter supporting its enactment.  This legislation has the support of both rail labor and management.

The bill modernizes the railroad retirement system for its 748,000 beneficiaries nationwide, including 10,800 in Iowa.  It provides immediate benefit improvements for the surviving spouses of rail workers, who currently suffer deep cuts in income when the rail retiree dies.  It restores the retirement age to sixty for rail workers with at least 30 years of service.  And it provides tax relief to freight railroads, Amtrak and commuter lines.

I strongly encourage you to voice your support for this excellent legislation by speaking to the Senate and House Leadership to let them know that passage of this legislation is a priority for your Administration.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

/s/

Thomas J. Vilsack
Governor

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