I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3143 
To freeze the availability of Federal funding for high-speed rail projects 
in California, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 7, 2011 
Mr. MCCARTHY of California (for himself, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. DENHAM, Mr. 
HERGER, Mr. MCKEON, Mr. NUNES, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. ISSA, and Mr. 
MCCLINTOCK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To freeze the availability of Federal funding for high-speed 
rail projects in California, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. HIGH-SPEED RAIL FUNDING FREEZE. 
The Federal Government shall not obligate or expend 
any funds for high-speed rail projects in California until 
after September 30, 2012. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:40 Oct 08, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3143.IH
H3143
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit to the 
Congress a report that— 
(1) assesses the accuracy of ridership projec-
tions made by the California High Speed Rail Au-
thority; 
(2) projects the amount of Federal or State 
funding that will be needed to complete the con-
struction of the California High Speed Rail project, 
and projects the amount of Federal or State funding 
that will be needed annually for operation, mainte-
nance, and debt amortization of the California High 
Speed Rail project; 
(3) projects the ticket prices and ridership lev-
els that would be necessary for the project to be self 
sustaining using each of several total project cost es-
timates that have been made for the California High 
Speed Rail project, including, but not limited to, the 
report prepared by the California High Speed Rail 
Authority, the California Legislative Analyst’s Of-
fice, and at least one private sector entity, both— 
(A) assuming no Federal or State govern-
ment funding for capital costs or operational 
and maintenance costs; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:40 Oct 08, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3143.IH
H3143
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(B) calculated based on varying levels of 
Federal or State government funding, up to 90 
percent of the self sustaining ticket price, for 
capital costs and operational and maintenance 
costs; 
(4) compares the individual and Federal and 
State taxpayer costs of various travel trips, using 
the California High Speed Rail project estimates de-
scribed in paragraph (3), with those costs if making 
those trips using other modes of transportation 
available in California, such as railroads, airplanes, 
and automobiles, including car rentals; 
(5) identifies any adverse economic impacts re-
sulting from the exercise of eminent domain with re-
spect to private property for the project; and 
(6) where feasible, compares the California 
High Speed Rail project and other high speed rail 
projects that have received funds under title XII of 
Public Law 111–5. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:40 Oct 08, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3143.IH
H3143
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS