Date: 2005-06-21
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Once again in the Subcommittee on Transportation of the Committee on Appropriations. we see Amtrak being treated like an ugly stepchild of this Nations transportation system. If we are wondering why only 19 percent of the American people feel that the Congress is in tune with their priorities. the cuts in Amtrak is one blatant reason why. Yesterday we passed a $408 billion defense appropriations bill. and it did not even include the costs of the war in Iraq. We are cutting Amtrak routes to local governments throughout the United States that have no other form of public transportation. We are spending $1 billion a week in Iraq. $4 billion a month. but this administration zeroes out funding for Amtrak. and the Committee on Appropriations does not even give them enough money to operate the Northeast corridor. Just one weeks investment in Iraq would significantly improve passenger rail for the entire country for an entire year. The current funding issue concerning Amtrak brings up a fundamental question as to where this Nation stands on public transportation. We have an opportunity to improve the system that serves our needs for passenger rail service. or we can let it fall apart and leave this countrys travelers and businessmen with absolutely no alternative forms of public transportation. Without the funding Amtrak needs to keep opeiating. we will soon see people that rely on Amtrak to get to work each day waiting for a train that isnot coming. We continue to subsidize highways and aviation. but when it comes to our passenger rail system. we refu~e to pro.vide the money Amtrak needs to sur-. vive. This issue is much bigger than just transportation. This -is about safety and national security. Not only should we be giving Amtrak the money it needs to continue to provide services. we should be providing security money to upgrade their tracks and improve safety and security measures in the entire rail system. Once again. we see the Bush administration paying for its failed policies by cutting funds to vital public services and jeopardizing more American jobs. It is time for this administration to step up to the plate and make a decision about Amtrak based on what is best for the traveling public. not what is best for the right wing of the Republican Party and the bean counters at OMB. I represent central Florida. which depends on tourists for its economic survival. We need people to be able to get to the State and enjoy it. Ever since September 11. more and more people are turning from the airlines to Amtrak. and they deserve safe and dependable service. This is just one example of Amtraks impact on my State. Amtrak runs four long distance trains from Florida. employing 990 residents. with wages totaling over $43 million. who purchased over $13 million in goods and services last year. They are doing the same thing in every State that they run in. Some people think the solution to the problem is privatizing the system. If we privatize. we will see the same thing we saw when we deregulated the airline industry. Only the lucrative routes will be maintained and routes to rural locations will be expensive and few. I was in New York shortly after September 11 when the plane leaving JFK airport crashed into the Bronx. I. along with many of my colleagues in both the House and Senate. took Amtrak back to Washington. I realized once again just how important Amtrak is to the American people and how important it is for the Nation to have alternative modes of transportation. This is not about fiscal policy. This is about providing a safe and reliable public transportation system that the citizens of this country need and deserve. I am asking all of my colleagues to join me and support the full funding of Amtrak-