Congress Rejects Bill Aimed At Boosting Amtrak's Budget
By Justin Udo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Congress rejects a bill aimed at boosting Amtrak's budget by $1 billion.
The House Appropriations Committee said no to the bill that included $556 million for the railroad's Northeast Corridor, that's where the fatal derailment occurred Tuesday night, part of that money was for safety updates.
Many in the Republican-controlled House say the law requires new spending to be offset by cuts.
Philadelphia Democratic Congressman Chaka Fattah says protecting the people who ride the rails should be their first priority.
"We're saying no don't worry about it. You don't have to worry about dying in a train accident. That's not based on expertise. It's based on we don't have an offset," said Congressman Fattah.
A GOP measure would slash Amtrak's budget to $1.1 billion, an 18 percent cut that's likely to be reversed after negotiations later this year.
