The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has voted to deny $1.2 billion in funding to Amtrak and pushed through a bill that threatens most, if not all, long-distance train service in the U.S. The Republican-backed bill would give the rail service $760 million next year — about $500 million less than the $1.2 billion proposed by the Senate and requested by Amtrak to maintain current service levels. Rep. Harold Rogers (R-Ky.), who chairs the subcommittee on transportation, said any more money “would reward Amtrak for their poor management and poor performance.” Amtrak said the bill would devastate the railroad and almost certainly force major service changes. Notably, the bill’s backers voted to strike a provision that would likely have led to closing six train lines in areas where Republicans face tight reelection races.
