In December 2002, Amtrak officials were awaiting Congress' decision on a funding level for fiscal-year 2003. Amtrak President David Gunn was threatening to shut the railroad down if the appropriation was less than $1.2 billion, and the Bush Administration made it clear that it wasn't in favor of subsidizing the national passenger railroad. Meanwhile, Congress was mulling proposals that varied from providing very little funding to giving the railroad its requested amount. Fast forward to December 2003, where the Amtrak issue has gone from hot to lukewarm in Washington, D.C. The sense of urgency that used to accompany the "what to do about Amtrak" question seems to have diminished, and Gunn's made a little more headway convincing Congress to give him ― and Amtrak ― a chance to prove intercity passenger rail is a worthy investment. Amtrak still has its share of nay-sayers, but there isn't much doubt in the minds of the railroad's officials or congressional leaders that Amtrak will receive enough funds to make ends meet in FY2004, which began Oct. 1.
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