Tester defends long-distance Amtrak service for rural Montana

From the office of Sen. Jon Tester

Following the Trump Administration’s repeated attempts to cut rail funding in rural America, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., pressed Amtrak officials on their failure to invest in long-distance commuter rail lines that connect rural areas to the rest of the country.

The Trump Administration’s budget for Fiscal Year 2020 cuts Amtrak’s budget by nearly 25 percent, or $455 million.

In this week's Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing, Tester questioned Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson on the organization’s plans to invest in rural...