The Trump administration has nominated a former Indiana congressman to Amtrak’s board of directors.
The nomination of Todd Rokita drew fire from the Rail Passengers Association, which described the former Republican congressman as anti-Amtrak.
RPA said that during his time in Congress, Rokita voted against Amtrak on eight of 13 Amtrak-specific amendments, including failed amendments seeking to end funding for the carrier’s national network, ending Amtrak’s federal grant and cutting capital funding for Amtrak.
The rail passenger advocacy organization said it would lead an effort to hold up Rokita’s nomination.
In a related development, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran has placed a legislative block on three appointees to the Amtrak board until the carrier commits to keeping the Southwest Chief operating as it does now between Chicago and Los Angeles.
Amtrak in the Heartland 
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