[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2127-E2128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 GOVERNMENT SUPPORT CRITICAL TO AMTRAK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2006

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, one of the most important 
institutions in the region I represent in this House is the New England 
Council. No organization does a better job of advocating in a sensible 
and reasonable way for the economic interests of our area. The Council 
is composed largely of businesspeople and it is important to note that

[[Page E2128]]

they are businesspeople who recognize that we need both a vibrant 
private sector and an adequately funded and well run public sector 
working together to make the kind of progress that will improve the 
quality of lives of all of those we represent.
  James T. Brett is a very able chief executive of the Council. Mr. 
Brett is a former State Representative who has a very impressive 
understanding of the importance of this private-public interaction. 
During our recess, he wrote a very interesting article published in the 
Patriot Ledger of Massachusetts making in very strong terms the case 
for significant improvements in the way in which the federal government 
deals with Amtrak. As Mr. Brett notes, ``the regional consequences 
would be disastrous if Amtrak were unable to operate.''
  Mr. Brett cogently addresses one of the important issues that will be 
facing us when we convene for the 110th Congress, and I ask that his 
important article be printed here so that Members will have the benefit 
of this information as we do so.

                       [From the Patriot Ledger]

                 Government Support Critical to Amtrak

                          (By James T. Brett)

       Passenger rail is vital to our quality of life and economy 
     in New England, where rail is an integral part of the 
     region's multi-modal transportation system and relied on by 
     so many for daily commuting and business travel.
       Yet the future of Amtrak, including the future of the 
     nation's busiest rail route--the Northeast Corridor--will be 
     affected in the coming weeks as Congress works to finalize 
     spending bills before the end of the session.
       In July, the full Senate Committee on Appropriations 
     approved $1.4 billion in funding for Amtrak in the Senate 
     Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill for the 2007 
     fiscal year, an increase over the current $1.3 billion 
     allocation, and well above the President's budget request of 
     $900 million. In June, the House passed its Transportation-
     Treasury bill for the 2007 fiscal year, which funds Amtrak at 
     $1.14 billion.
       It is critical that Congress approve adequate funding for 
     Amtrak in the upcoming appropriations debate. A 2007 funding 
     level for Amtrak that, at the very least, meets its 2006 of 
     $1.3 billion will allow Amtrak to continue to operate with 
     some infrastructure investment.
       Over the last several years, Amtrak has implemented many 
     reforms, modified service and reduced personnel. More than 14 
     million people rode Amtrak trains in the Northeast last year 
     and Amtrak had its third straight year of record ridership. 
     In addition, Amtrak has continued its efforts to implement a 
     capital investment plan to bring its infrastructure closer to 
     a state of good repair.
       Despite the progress, much important work still needs to be 
     done. In this year's fiscal 2007 request, Amtrak cited 
     Northeast Corridor infrastructure improvements as a critical 
     priority. These include three major bridges in Connecticut--
     the Thames River, the Niantic River and the Connecticut River 
     Bridges--which date back to the turn of the century and need 
     to be replaced. Forty Amtrak trains run over these bridges 
     daily, providing service between New York and Boston.
       Other projects, cited by Amtrak, include the replacement of 
     wood ties on main tracks; the rehabilitation or replacement 
     of much of the overhead catenary system that supplies power; 
     the replacement of major portions of the power supply 
     systems; and the upgrading of interlockings and signal 
     systems.
       Amtrak is a vital transportation link for millions of New 
     Englanders. At a time when our highways are increasingly 
     congested, the regional consequences would be disastrous if 
     Amtrak were unable to operate. Amtrak serves hundreds of 
     thousands of commuter rail riders and represents thousands of 
     jobs in the region.
       And highway congestion is not a problem that is going away 
     anytime soon. A new study by the nonprofit think tank the 
     Reason Foundation reported this summer that traffic delays 
     will increase 65 percent and the number of congested lane-
     miles on urban roads will rise 50 percent over the next 25 
     years. Even in smaller cities, traffic congestion is expected 
     to worsen substantially over the next two decades. In our 
     region, Massachusetts and Connecticut are both ranked in the 
     top 25 of states that will have the most congested lane miles 
     by 2030.
       A safe, reliable passenger rail system is vital to managing 
     transportation in the Northeast. The region's ability to 
     sustain and enhance its economic growth and remain 
     competitive is linked to an efficient regional transportation 
     system which includes intercity passenger rail. Government 
     support is critical to Amtrak's survival. And it is important 
     that Congress consider these economic factors as they debate 
     funding for Amtrak.

                          ____________________