LAUTENBERG APPLAUDS COSCIA APPOINTMENT TO AMTRAK BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LAUTENBERG APPLAUDS COSCIA APPOINTMENT TO AMTRAK BOARD OF DIRECTORS
N.J. Senator Recommended Coscia to President Obama

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, today issued the following statement on Anthony R. Coscia's nomination to the Amtrak Board of Directors by President Obama.  Sen. Lautenberg recommended Mr. Coscia to the President in a letter earlier this year.

"We are fortunate to have Anthony Coscia nominated to join Amtrak's Board of Directors," stated Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg.  "He has unique knowledge and experience on transportation matters gained from his position as Chairman of the Board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that operates bridges, tunnels, bus terminals and carries 72 million rail passengers a year. There are few people in our country better prepared than Mr. Coscia to help lead Amtrak in providing the quality passenger rail service that the greatest country in the world must have.  I am sure he will make passenger rail service in our region and throughout the country an even more appealing way to travel." 

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States.  The members of its board of directors are appointed by the President and are subject to confirmation by the United States Senate.

Lautenberg is one of the Senate's leading advocates for passenger rail.  In 2008 he wrote the law to reauthorize Amtrak which will provide increased funding over the next five years, help modernize the Northeast Corridor and expand rail service across the country.  Amtrak employs nearly 19,000 people and connects 500 destinations in 46 states.  In fiscal year 2008, Amtrak served 28.7 million passengers, representing six straight years of record ridership.

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