The favorable vote came just a few days after the UTU-supported legislation was introduced, and followed a barrage of supportive phone calls to lawmakers from UTU members and retirees.

H.R. 1630, the Amtrak Reauthorization Act, is the creation of the bi-partisan leadership of the T&I Committee, where all transportation-related legislation must begin.

Its authors are T&I Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska); the committee's top Democrat, Jim Oberstar of Minnesota; Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio), the chairman of the Railroad Subcommittee, and the subcommittee's ranking Democrat, Corrine Brown of Florida.

"There is a common understanding of the need for near-term funding of Amtrak," Young told UTU International President Paul Thompson. "This bill, at its requested level of $2 billion per year, will allow Amtrak to continue with critical work under its current five-year plan."

There are no anti-labor provisions in the bill -- such as are being sought by Amtrak President David Gunn -- as elimination of the assistant conductor, removing new hires from Railroad Retirement coverage, elimination of FELA coverage and removal of Amtrak from coverage under the Railway Labor Act.

Oberstar said, "I think very little is understood about the enormous progress Amtrak has made in the past year to improve the quality of the track, the rail bed, its rolling stock and to upgrade its operations."

Latourette said, "Years of deferred maintenance have left Amtrak with a deteriorated physical infrastructure, infrastructure which is used not only by Amtrak but also by thousands of commuters each day. H.R. 1630 provides enough funds to begin a capital program to improve both the Northeast Corridor and Amtrak's aging long distance fleet. Most importantly, this legislation sends a clear message that we recognize the vital role passenger rail service has in our national transportation system. I hope that H.R. 1630 will give a renewed sense of mission to Amtrak's workforce, which has been struggling for years just to keep the trains running." LaTourette said.

Brown said, "Today, the committee passed a bi-partisan Amtrak reauthorization bill that will truly serve America 's traveling public. This legislation will provide a safe and reliable public transportation system that the citizens of this nation needs and deserve."

The T&I Committee also voted to approve a second bill, in which the UTU had input and supports. That bill is the Railroad Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century (RIDE 21, or H.R. 1631). It also was introduced by the committee's and subcommittee's bi-partisan leadership and would provide $60 billion for high-speed rail and rail infrastructure projects.

"All of rail labor must get involved to help defeat the Bush administration attempt to kill Amtrak and, instead, help to pass this bi-partisan measure to fund Amtrak, said UTU National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer.