Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen

             Michigan State Legislative Board

April 25, 2005

Brothers and Sisters,

Your immediate attention is requested to the Amtrak Funding Crisis in Congress. One of the dire consequences of Amtrak’s shutdown is the stress it would place on Railroad Retirement. Railroad Retirement as we know it today could be wiped out with the vote from Congress to “not fund” Amtrak.

The future funding of Amtrak is critical to all current rail employees, retirees, and to the widows and dependents of deceased railroad employees.

It is extremely urgent that all LR’s and the entire BLE&T membership contact their Federal and State elected officials and urge them to keep Amtrak funding in the current and future budgets. Please, Do this today!

Greg Powell,

Chairman