HR1597 LRB095 22993 AJO 53465 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is the oldest partner with
3 Amtrak in state-sponsored intercity passenger rail service in
4 the nation; and
 
5     WHEREAS, The State of Illinois passenger rail program is
6 the second largest state-sponsored Amtrak program in the
7 nation; and
 
8     WHEREAS, The State of Illinois invests more than $28.7
9 million each year in payments to Amtrak to provide citizens
10 with state-sponsored service; and
 
11     WHEREAS, For decades Amtrak had a crew base in Galesburg,
12 Illinois that employed 35 citizens of the State of Illinois;
13 and
 
14     WHEREAS, Rail workers in Galesburg are recognized as some
15 of the finest in the nation; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Amtrak closed the Galesburg crew base in 2000 and
17 transferred a majority of the assignments out of state, with
18 some transferring to Chicago; and
 
19     WHEREAS, This cost the State of Illinois more than 20 good

 

 

HR1597 - 2 - LRB095 22993 AJO 53465 r

1 paying jobs and negatively affected the livelihood of its rail
2 workers; and
 
3     WHEREAS, This loss of 35 good paying jobs also harmed the
4 local economy of Galesburg, Illinois; therefore, be it
 
5     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
6 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7 Amtrak perform a cost and operational analysis to determine the
8 benefits of reopening the Galesburg crew base; and be it
9 further
 
10     RESOLVED, That Amtrak share this analysis with IDOT and, if
11 appropriate, take the steps necessary to reopen the Galesburg
12 crew base and return these jobs from out of state; and be it
13 further
 
14     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this Resolution be
15 provided to the President of Amtrak and each member of the
16 Illinois congressional delegation.