President Bush on Thursday signed a measure into law that provides some $13 billion to Amtrak and other passenger rail. The funding, which Bush originally opposed, is a companion piece to a railroad-safety bill; the legislation was pushed quickly through Congress after a Sept. 12 train collision in Los Angeles that killed 25 people and injured at least 130 more. Amtrak, which has been experiencing record ridership, will receive the $13 billion over five years, though Congress will have to approve the subsidy each year. By the by, for those paying attention to the presidential shenanigans: When the bill came up in the Senate, Barack Obama voted aye, John McCain voted nay, and regular Amtrak rider Joe Biden did not vote.
source: Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Progressive Railroading, The Star-Ledger
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