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Spot on take:
My friends, we have entered tone-deaf territory.
During advocacy work there are times when you stop, scratch your head, and wonder why some decisions get made. Here we are…again.
On January 25, 2024, President Biden renominated Samuel Lathem, of Delaware, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years. In case you’ve forgotten, the Senate sent Mr. Lathem’s previous nomination back to the White House in October 2023 in part because President Biden’s original slate of nominees did not comply with the statutory requirement codified in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that no more than four of the eight Board members be from a state along the Northeast Corridor.
Now, because Mr. Lathem is a solo nominee who will be replacing fellow Delawarean Albert DiClemente, this won’t violate the geographical diversity statute (one might question the need for a de facto permanent Delaware seat on the Amtrak Board, but given how much political capital President Biden has spent on America’s railroads, we’re willing to take the larger view). We should also be clear: Mr. Lathem, in isolation, is perfectly qualified to be a member of Amtrak’s Board and likely would do a fine job, particularly representing labor interests.
It’s just that submitting Mr. Lathem singly, without representation from a Western, Southern or Midwestern state ignores the successful blueprint established during the January 23rd confirmations of incumbent Chair Tony Coscia (NJ), Mayor Christopher Koos (IL), and Joel Szabat (MD). These welcome additions to the Amtrak Board were secured through a bipartisan approach that considered the needs of Middle America. We’ll “take the win” on these confirmations, but we need to do more. After all, finding a bipartisan issue in Washington, DC is like finding a unicorn. An Amtrak Board representative of ALL passengers from ALL parts of the country? THAT is of bipartisan interest!
In October 2023 President Biden promised the Senate he’d bring his slate into compliance by substituting someone from outside the Northeast corridor for one of his nominees. We’re still waiting for that nomination. We were asked to put forward alternates, and your Association responded with lists of several extremely qualified alternatives. Your Rail Passengers Association professional staff will continue to work toward an Amtrak Board that represents ALL of America and not just the Northeast Corridor. Your professional staff is in contact with allied Senate offices to help secure Board seats for people who understand the needs of National Network passengers.
All trains and routes are important; those who live in rural areas often have fewer transportation options, and we want to make sure no one is left out as we continue to fight for more trains, in more places that serve MORE PEOPLE. Please consider donating today to help us keep going in this fight.
With Determination,
Jim Mathews
President & CEO
My friends, we have entered tone-deaf territory.
During advocacy work there are times when you stop, scratch your head, and wonder why some decisions get made. Here we are…again.
On January 25, 2024, President Biden renominated Samuel Lathem, of Delaware, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years. In case you’ve forgotten, the Senate sent Mr. Lathem’s previous nomination back to the White House in October 2023 in part because President Biden’s original slate of nominees did not comply with the statutory requirement codified in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that no more than four of the eight Board members be from a state along the Northeast Corridor.
Now, because Mr. Lathem is a solo nominee who will be replacing fellow Delawarean Albert DiClemente, this won’t violate the geographical diversity statute (one might question the need for a de facto permanent Delaware seat on the Amtrak Board, but given how much political capital President Biden has spent on America’s railroads, we’re willing to take the larger view). We should also be clear: Mr. Lathem, in isolation, is perfectly qualified to be a member of Amtrak’s Board and likely would do a fine job, particularly representing labor interests.
It’s just that submitting Mr. Lathem singly, without representation from a Western, Southern or Midwestern state ignores the successful blueprint established during the January 23rd confirmations of incumbent Chair Tony Coscia (NJ), Mayor Christopher Koos (IL), and Joel Szabat (MD). These welcome additions to the Amtrak Board were secured through a bipartisan approach that considered the needs of Middle America. We’ll “take the win” on these confirmations, but we need to do more. After all, finding a bipartisan issue in Washington, DC is like finding a unicorn. An Amtrak Board representative of ALL passengers from ALL parts of the country? THAT is of bipartisan interest!
In October 2023 President Biden promised the Senate he’d bring his slate into compliance by substituting someone from outside the Northeast corridor for one of his nominees. We’re still waiting for that nomination. We were asked to put forward alternates, and your Association responded with lists of several extremely qualified alternatives. Your Rail Passengers Association professional staff will continue to work toward an Amtrak Board that represents ALL of America and not just the Northeast Corridor. Your professional staff is in contact with allied Senate offices to help secure Board seats for people who understand the needs of National Network passengers.
All trains and routes are important; those who live in rural areas often have fewer transportation options, and we want to make sure no one is left out as we continue to fight for more trains, in more places that serve MORE PEOPLE. Please consider donating today to help us keep going in this fight.
With Determination,
Jim Mathews
President & CEO
