In this case, it is especially important if you are represented in the House of Representatives by a Republican, because the Republican leadership is pressing to find enough votes to pass the bill later this week.
The bill is a blueprint for multi-year transportation spending – supported by an anti-labor House leadership – that would have a most negative impact on the job security of bus, rail and transit workers.
It is H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, a wolf in sheep’s clothing if there ever was one. A better name would be the anti-jobs act.
Among the bill’s worst provisions are:
* It would facilitate privatization of public transit system by directing more federal funds to systems that contract out at least 20 percent of the jobs.
* It denies transit systems the flexibility to use federal funds to maintain service and retain workers during times of economic crisis, as we now are enduring.
* It eliminates federal minimum wage and overtime requirements for van drivers that transport rail crews between terminals, meaning these already low-paid and fatigued drivers would become more of a safety hazard when transporting crews.
* It delays mandatory implementation of positive train control on passenger rail lines from late 2015 to late 2020.
* It allows freight railroads to implement alternatives to installing of positive train control, which would provide crews and the public far less protection.
* It eliminates grants for hazmat train-the-trainer program, which would dramatically reduce or end training programs at the National Labor College.
* It eliminates capital grants for states seeking to expand and improve Amtrak service.
* It reduces long-term capital funding for Amtrak, limiting Amtrak’s ability to upgrade tracks and bridges on the Northeast Corridor.
* It prohibits Amtrak from using specialized outside counsel to recover from those at fault in Amtrak collisions, likely causing Amtrak to bear full responsibility for deaths and injuries cause by a non-Amtrak entity – even where it is clear the other operator was solely responsible for the entire accident.
* It requires Amtrak to contract-out its food and beverage service to the lowest bidder, threatening 2,000 Amtrak jobs and contributions to Railroad Retirement by shifting those jobs to non-union low-wage, low-benefits operators.
* It makes permanent a pilot program that allows any passenger rail provider to bid for any of Amtrak’s routes.
* It prohibits California from using any highway, transit, or passenger rail funds for development of high-speed rail.
To contact your House member and urge a “no” vote on H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, click on the following link:
www.contactingthecongress.org/
Then select your state, click on the names of your senators and representative, and you have the information needed to send an email or fax, or make a phone call.
Freight rail, Amtrak and transit jobs, safety and Railroad Retirement are at risk if this bill is passed by the House of Representatives.
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