[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2389-E2390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CAPITALIZING ON AMTRAK

                                 ______


                         HON. NANCY L. JOHNSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 18, 1995

  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced a bill 
to establish a new intercity passenger rail trust fund. Serving over 
500 destinations across the country, the National Railroad Passenger 
Corporation [Amtrak] provides 22 million passenger rail trips to 
Americans every year. With an estimated $4 billion needed in capital 
improvements over the next few years, the rail trust fund will provide 
Amtrak with much needed capital funds to improve rolling stock, cars 
and locomotives, upgrade maintenance facilities, and prevent the 
deterioration of track and signal equipment. First introduced by Senate 
Finance Committee Chairman Bill Roth, the rail trust fund will be a 
secure source of capital funding during this time of tight budgetary 
constraints.
  On October 1, the 2.5 cents of the existing 18-cents-per-gallon gas 
tax that had been going into the Treasury for deficit reduction was 
shifted back into the mass transit portion of the highway trust fund. 
This highway trust fund account has a huge balance--estimated at over 
$10 billion at the end of fiscal 1996. My bill would direct 0.5 cent of 
this 2.5 cents into the rail trust fund until September 30, 2000.
  The establishment of this rail trust fund will not adversely affect 
other modes of transport, including mass transit. In fact, special 
language has been included in the rail trust fund legislation 
protecting mass transit. If, under the 

[[Page E2390]]
Rostenkoski rule, the cash balance in the mass transit account were 
ever insufficient to cover the transit spending for the current year 
and the following fiscal year, the revenues from the rail trust fund 
would revert into the transit account.
  Amtrak is an essential part of this country's transportation network. 
Between 1982 and 1994, travel on Amtrak's operating rose 40 percent. 
This necessary capital funding will cut Amtrak's operating and 
maintenance costs and improve reliability and performance. In addition, 
these improvements will reduce air pollution, fuel consumption, highway 
congestion, and urban parking problems. I urge my colleagues to join me 
in enacting this measure into law.

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