Submitted by Tom on Sat, 2009-07-25 10:06
By IowaGlobalWarming as posted on BleedingHeartland July 23, 2009
There is currently $4 billion dollars for intercity passenger rail in the Transportation Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. These are funds that could be used to restore Chicago-Dubuque and Chicago-Quad Cities-Iowa City-Des Moines passenger rail!
However, Representative Tom Latham has introduced an amendment that would eliminate $3 billion from the Capital Assistance for High Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity Passenger Rail Service program.
Latham may be following pressure from those who feel that passenger rail won't benefit them. Remind him that once passenger rail is established east and west, a north-south route will be possible between Des Moines and Minneapolis, right through his district. That will bring tourism dollars to Clear Lake, economic growth to Mason City, which has lost
manufacturing jobs in the past five years, and better opportunities for north Iowans to travel easily to Minneapolis and Des Moines.
Federal support for intercity passenger rail is essential to restoring rail service to Iowa. Thousands of Iowans support the
expansion of Midwest rail service. Rep. Latham's amendment could delay our progress on these important projects. That is why Rep. Latham needs to hear from you right now!
This is urgent - please call Congressman Latham's DC office at 202-225-5476 and ask him to support Iowa passenger rail by withdrawing his amendment to the FY10 Transportation appropriations bill. Afterwards, please send an email to the Congressman to tell him that connecting Iowa to the Midwest rail network is important for our state and to you personally, and ask him to support fully funding rail service in the future!