Legislation & Politics

Letter to Senators supporting the Shelby and Sarbanes amendment to boost rail and mass transit security funding

July 14, 2005

Dear Senator:

On behalf of 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I am writing to urge you to support an amendment to be offered to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill by Senators Shelby and Sarbanes that would boost rail and mass transit security funding by $1.2 billion. We further urge you to oppose an alternative and wholly inadequate amendment to be offered by Senator Gregg.

The London bombings are a harsh reminder that insufficient funding for transit security in previous years makes our own rail and mass transit system a vulnerable target of terrorists who would kill and wreak economic havoc on our communities. The Shelby-Sarbanes amendment would provide much needed funding for rail and transit security without robbing from other security needs, including the important funding for first responders.

We strongly urge you to support the Shelby-Sarbanes amendment and to reject the Gregg amendment.


Sincerely,

Charles M. Loveless
Director of Legislation

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