Blumenthal Files Amendment to Reinstate Veterans Advantage Amtrak Discount in Major Appropriations Bill

(Hartford, CT)—Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) filed an amendment in the Interior, Environment, Financial Services, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and General Government Appropriations Act of 2019 to reinstate the Veterans Advantage discount program through Amtrak. The program, which ended in March 2018, provided members of Veterans Advantage with a 15 percent discount on Amtrak tickets for veterans and their family members. The appropriations bill is currently being considered on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

“My measure would reinstate a discount on rail travel to our nation’s heroes, long accorded and well-deserved but inexplicably ended. Eliminating Amtrak’s longstanding Veterans Advantage discount was an outrage and insult to the heroes who committed their lives to protect our nation,” said Blumenthal. “Ending this discount sent the absolute wrong message about our values and priorities. I fought to improve this discount and now I am fighting to save it so veterans and their families can always feel welcome and encouraged to use our nation’s railroads.”

In March, Blumenthal sent a letter to Amtrak President and CEO Richard H. Anderson demanding that he reinstate the veteran discount program.

For 17 years, Amtrak has provided a discount fare to veterans and their families. In 2013, after learning that benefits provided to veterans were limited by restrictions and red tape not faced by other groups like AAA members and seniors, Senator Blumenthal helped secure access to more robust benefits for veterans and their families.