A joint resolution to express appreciation for the benefit brought to the Nation by Amtrak during its twenty years of existence.
PL 102-38 (S.J.Res.98), enacted 05/03/1991

105 STAT. 184 
PUBLIC LAW 102-38—MAY 3, 1991 
Public Law 102-38 
102d Congress 
Joint Resolution 
May 3, 1991 
To express appreciation for the benefit brought to the Nation by Amtrak during its 
[S. 
J. Res. 98] 
twenty years of existence. 
Whereas May 1, 1991, will mark the twentieth anniversary of the 
commencement of intercity rail passenger service by the National 
Railroad Passenger Corporation, better known as Amtrak; 
Whereas Amtrak has dramatically improved both the quality and 
the economics of rail passenger service in the past twenty years 
and provides a marketable and highly desired national transpor-
tation service, with over two hundred and twenty trains each day 
operating over twenty-four thousand track miles through forty-
four States; 
Whereas Amtrak carries passengers more miles and longer dis-
tances than carried by all the passenger railroads in 1970 prior to 
the establishment of Amtrak, provides transportation to nearly 
twenty-two million intercity and eighteen million commuter pas-
sengers each year, and serves as a vital national transportation 
link to rural America, which increasingly is losing other modes of 
public transportation; 
Whereas Amtrak employs nearly twenty-four thousand railroad 
employees, who cumulatively earn over $1,000,000,000 in annual 
taxable income, and procures over $350,000,000 in goods and 
services from domestic companies across the country; 
Whereas the country is witnessing a remarkable resurgence in 
support for a national rail passenger system, reflected by trains 
that frequently are sold out far in advance of departure and by 
increasing demands across the country for additional Amtrak 
service; 
Whereas Amtrak is now covering over 80 percent of its operating 
costs without Federal support compared to just 50 percent in 1981, 
and is committed to covering 100 percent of its operating costs by 
the year 2000; 
Whereas rail passenger service increasingly is recognized as a criti-
cal element of a balanced national transportation system and as 
an energy efficient, environmentally benign alternative to grow-
ing highway and airport congestion; 
Whereas Congress has repeatedly been required to preserve funding 
for a national rail passenger system in the face of proposals to 
eliminate Federal assistance for Amtrak, and is proud of the 
success Amtrak has achieved in providing increasingly better 
service at less cost to the Federal taxpayer; and 
Whereas Amtrak has a critical role to play in the future of the 
Nation's surface transportation system, as the operator of both 
conventional and high-speed rail systems, new systems based on 
magnetic levitation, and contract commuter rail systems: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That the creation 
PUBUC LAW 102-38—MAY 3, 1991 
105 STAT. 185 
of Amtrak had the important effect of preserving a national rail 
passenger system and of providing Americans with an energy effi-
cient, environmentally preferable transportation alternative, and 
that the need for a baJanced national transportation system in this 
country dictates that Federal and State transportation planners 
consider the many advantages of improved rail passenger 
service as they look to addressing national and regional transpor-
tation concerns. 
Approved May 8,1991. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 98: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 137 (1991): 
Apr. 23, considered and passed Senate. 
Apr. 24, considered and passed House.