Year: 2005

June 21, 2005

House Appropriations Committee approves “drop-dead Amtrak” budget—Szabo says $550-million appropriation would end all passenger rail service, pitch Amtrak into bankruptcy

June 10, 2005

Sen. Durbin, IDOT Secretary Martin attack Bush administration efforts to slash Amtrak budget, allege “drastic underfunding” could lead to route cuts in Illinois if Congress approves cuts

June 1, 2005

Regional Planning Board formed to promote comprehensive land-use and transportation planning starting in 2006 – Szabo says it will grow railroad jobs

May 25, 2005

Total victory achieved as Illinois House votes to concur with bill penalizing RR interference with injured workers’ medical treatment—Legislation heads to governor for signature

May 19, 2005

H.B. 2449, the Railroad Employees Medical Treatment Act passes Senate 59-0, goes back to House for final Concurrence

May 18, 2005

Illinois House approves bill to create State Passenger Rail Fund with novel funding mechanism based on travel by state employees

May 16, 2005

UTU Legislative agenda on track — Crew-van insurance bill passes Senate 54-0; H.B. 2449 slated for vote by end of week

May 2, 2005

Ill. Senate Transportation Committee approves UTU Legislation—H.B. 2449 and HB 2510 keep chugging along

April 24, 2005

UTU members achieve closure as killer of Metra Electric conductor is sentenced to 42 years—“Justice Team” from Local 1290 had members at every court session right through conviction

April 21, 2005

H.B. 2449 moving forward in Illinois Senate; once again, outreach is needed
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