Date: 2005-06-29
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. this amendment will strike the language in this bill that prevents funding for 18 important Amtrak routes throughout the country. Without this amendment. 23 States. over 154 Members and 258 local communities and over 4 million passengers will be waiting for a train that is not coming. This assault on Amtrak by the President and some of his allies in the Congress is a perfect example of why 81 percent of the American people believe Congress is out of touch with their priorities. This is the Peoples House. and I would hope that the House would do the peoples work and also not wait for the other body to rescue us. We spend $1 billion a week in Iraq. $4 billion a month. but there is no money for Amtrak or its passengers. Just one weeks investment in Iraq would fund passenger rail for the entire country for the entire year. In fact. listen up. we could fund Amtrak for a year with the $1 billion that the Pentagon said was misappropriated by Halliburton. I just want someone to explain to the American people why investing in transportation in Iraq is more important than investing in passenger rail right here in the United States. No transportation system in the world pays for itself. We continue to subsidize highways and aviation. but when it comes to passenger rail systems. we refuse to provide money needed for Amtrak to survive. For years. we put Amtrak on a starvation diet. and now we are trying to kill it off. Last year. we authorized more than $3 billion out of general revenue funds for the Federal Aviation Admiiistration. and this is in addition to the $20 billion in financial relief that we provided to the airlines after 9/11. all paid for by the American public. It is important to note that the Members who complain the loudest about Amtrak are the same Members that open up the American checkbook and ask how much do they need when the airlines come calling. all while ticket prices go up and service goes down. I represent central Florida. which depends on tourists for its economy. and we need people to be able to get to the State to enjoy it. Ever since September 11. more and more people are turning from airlines to Amtrak. and they deserve safe and dependable service. But if this amendment is not passed. the 200.000 visitors that take the AutoTrain to Florida each year will not be visiting our great State. This is just one example of Amtraks impact on my State. Amtrak runs four long distance trains through Florida. employing 990 residents. with wages totaling over $43 million. They purchased over $13 million in goods and services last year. and theyare doing it at the same time in every single State. We have maps and information right here. and I would encourage my colleagues to see what impact Amtrak has on their State. I want to thank all of the Members who have come to the Floor in support of Amtrak. I strongly encourage my colleagues to do the right thing for their constituents and support this important amendment. If we do not fund Amtrak. we will leave 25 million people waiting for a train that is not coming. Mr. Chairman. you can fool some of the people some of the time. but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. The American people support passenger rail service in this country. We will be the only civilized country that does not have passenger rail service.