To: The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Donald Trump

Save AMTRAK's Long-Distance Train Service

President Trump's budget eliminates the federal funding that is necessary to keep America's trains running from coast to coast. The National Association of Railroad Passengers warns that 220 cities will lose train service under this plan. Tell Trump and Congress this is unacceptable. We should be improving our rail travel system, which is already more environmentally friendly than air or auto travel, rather than decimating it.

Why is this important?

My family and I have travelled coast to coast and beyond via Amtrak's long distance train service: from Charleston, SC to Portland, Oregon; from Charleston, SC to Montreal Canada; etc. Our home station in Charleston, SC is on the list of stations we'll lose if Trump's budget passes. My 7-year-old son, Jack, is particularly devastated. On our travels, we've made many friends — often people from other countries to whom train travel appeals when they're vacationing here. In short, eliminating our long-distance rail service would be a loss not only to American citizens, but also to international tourists and the tourism industry.