Hotline #781-A

The House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Bob Carr (D.-Mich.), voted this morning to accept the Tauzin amendment transferring $20 million from Amtrak operations to the Coast Guard. Rep. Lucien Blackwell (D.-Pa.) may distribute a "Dear Colleague" letter to all House Members protesting this action. Please encourage pro-Amtrak Representatives to contact Blackwell and offer to co-sign his letter and vote for any floor amendment that may be offered to reverse this morning's action.

Starting yesterday, the California Zephyr is running on the Chicago & North Western between Chicago and Omaha. Floods again have shut down St. Louis-Kansas City service and the Southwest Chief east of Albuquerque. Also, the X2000, which is to leave Los Angeles today en route to planned appearances in New Mexico and Beech Grove, Ind., will follow the Southern Pacific route to New Orleans, then Illinois Central to Effingham, Ill., Conrail to Indianapolis, and proceed directly to its next planned appearance at Cincinnati.