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While the Senate on March 16 failed to pass an amendment to a budget resolution that would have set Amtrak's funding level at $1.4 billion, the House on March 17 in its budget resolution did include $1.2 billion for Amtrak.
Here is the report from the National Association of Railroad Passengers:

The House of Representatives today [March 17] passed its Fiscal 2006 budget resolution.  Transportation funding is "the President's recommended level, as re-estimated by the Congressional Budget Office, with the following adjustment:  the starting level was increased to accommodate
for continued funding of passenger rail services."  The resolution assumes $1.2 billion for Amtrak, the same as this year's funding level.

House leaders added room for Amtrak in the budget resolution after 21Republican members wrote March 2 to Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (IA), urging him to "provide sufficient funding...to sustain Amtrak's national network of passenger rail service.  The company is moving in
the right direction."  The lead signers were Railroads Subcommittee Chairman Steve LaTourette (OH), Mike Castle (DE), Sherwood Boehlert (NY) and Rob Simmons (CT).

During House Budget Committee consideration of the resolution, Rep.Allison Schwartz (D-PA), also a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, engaged Nussle in a colloquy regarding in which Nussle acknowledged and was hopeful that a portion of the
additional funding above the president's request would be used for Amtrak but left it in the hands of the appropriators. Budget resolutions are advisory and are not enacted into law; appropriations laws set exact funding levels for each program.

Yesterday, the Senate defeated 46-52 an amendment to the Senate's budget resolution which would have increased Amtrak funding to $1.4 billion, from the zero President Bush requested.  Four Republicans voted for Amtrak.  Some other Republicans emphasized that their vote against the
amendment was based on concern that the amendment was a closet tax increase.  Eight Republicans signed a February 10 letter pro-Amtrak letter to Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Ranking Member Kent Conrad (D-ND).

Just before yesterday's vote, Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) said, "While I support the intent of [Sen. Byrd] and I support Amtrak and I am determined to get this job done, we shouldn't do it in this way at this point."  Noting he is again chairman of the authorizing subcommittee, Lott said, "I am committed to find a way to get a reauthorization and get a reliable stream of funds for Amtrak so its future can be certain and so this does not have to depend on annual appropriations." 

Amtrak is unique in transportation in being responsible for multi-year
capital projects but not having any multi-year funding.

SERVICE....Operated....Late...On Time %......Goal

Acela Express...671.....150......77.6%......94.0%
Auto Train.......56......32......42.9%......70.0%
Calif Zephyr.....56......54.......3.6%......70.0%
Capitol Ltd......56......38......32.1%......70.0%
Capitols........624.....113......81.9%......85.0%
Cardinal.........24.......6......75.0%......70.0%
Carolinian.......56......39......30.4%......85.0%
Cascades........307......97......68.4%......85.0%
City of NO.......56.......5......91.1%......70.0%
Clocker/Keyst...616.....125......79.7%......90.0%
Cst Starlight....56......23......58.9%......70.0%
Crescent.........56......18......67.9%......70.0%
Downeaster......224......18......92.0%......85.0%
Empire Svc......644.....150......76.7%......85.0%
Empire Builder..112......14......87.5%......70.0%
Heartland Flyer..56......13......76.8%......85.0%
Hiawatha........384......16......95.8%......85.0%
Hoosier State....32......20......37.5%......85.0%
Illinois/MO.....280......59......78.9%......85.0%
Lake Shore Ltd..112......58......48.2%......70.0%
Metroliner......100......14......86.0%......94.0%
Michigan........280.....135......51.8%......85.0%
Pac Surfliner...671.....185......72.4%......85.0%
Piedmont.........55......23......58.2%......85.0%
Regional.......1500.....255......83.0%......90.0%
San Joaquins....336.....190......43.5%......85.0%
Silver Service..168.....114......32.1%......70.0%
Southwest Chief..54......12......77.8%......70.0%
Sunset Ltd.......24......24.......0.0%......70.0%
Texas Eagle......56......15......73.2%......70.0%
Three Rivers.....56......15......73.2%......70.0%

ALL............7778....2030......73.9%......85.0%
Source: Gene Poon, Amtrak

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