[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 13, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H3712-H3714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           NATIONAL TRAIN DAY

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1176) supporting the goals 
and ideals of National Train Day.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1176

       Whereas, on May 10, 1869, the ``golden spike'' was driven 
     into the final tie at Promontory Summit, Utah, to join the 
     Central Pacific and the Union Pacific Railroads, ceremonially 
     completing the first transcontinental railroad and therefore 
     connecting both coasts of the United States;
       Whereas, in highly populated regions, Amtrak trains and 
     infrastructure carry commuters to and from work in congested 
     metropolitan areas providing a reliable rail option, reducing 
     congestion on roads and in the skies;
       Whereas, for many rural Americans, Amtrak represents the 
     only major intercity transportation link to the rest of the 
     country;
       Whereas passenger rail provides a more fuel-efficient 
     transportation system thereby providing cleaner 
     transportation alternatives and energy security;
       Whereas passenger railroads emit only 0.2 percent of the 
     travel industry's total greenhouse gases;
       Whereas Amtrak annually provides intercity passenger rail 
     travel to over 25,000,000 Americans residing in 46 States;
       Whereas an increasing number of people are using trains for 
     travel purposes beyond commuting to and from work;
       Whereas our railroad stations are a source of civic pride, 
     a gateway to our communities, and a tool for economic growth; 
     and
       Whereas Amtrak has designated May 10, 2008, as National 
     Train Day to celebrate the way trains connect people and 
     places: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the contribution trains make to the national 
     transportation system;
       (2) urges the people of the United States to recognize such 
     a day as an opportunity to learn more about trains; and
       (3) supports the goals and ideals of National Train Day as 
     designated by Amtrak.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. 
Boozman) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks on H. Res. 1176.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  National Train Day celebrates the 139th anniversary of the ``golden 
spike,'' which was driven into the final tie in Utah and marked the 
completion of our Nation's first transcontinental railroad in 1869.
  This weekend I celebrated National Train Day by holding events 
throughout my district, including press conferences and events in 
Jacksonville, Winter Park, and Sanford Auto Train station. We had a 
great turnout at every event, and I heard firsthand from people who use 
Amtrak every day to go to work and visit friends and family all over 
the country.
  As Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous 
Materials, I have had the privilege to see firsthand passenger rail 
systems in other countries. I have taken high-speed trains from 
Brussels to Paris, 200 miles, 1\1/4\ hours; and from Barcelona to 
Madrid, 300 miles, 2\1/2\ hours; and the advantage for travelers and 
for business are tremendous. We need to catch up with the world, and 
with gas prices edging toward $4 a gallon, some places $5 and $6, now 
is the perfect time for us to begin to make serious investment in 
passenger rail.
  Indeed, Amtrak ridership and revenue has never been stronger. In 
2007, Amtrak set a new record for ridership, exceeding 25.8 million 
passengers. In the same year, ticket revenues increased by 11 percent, 
to more than $1.5 billion. For my State of Florida, Amtrak expenditures 
for goods and services in the State soared to nearly $40 million last 
year, and Amtrak currently employs over 700 Florida residents.
  I have traveled all over the country and have conducted many 
transportation roundtable events that feature rail and its importance, 
and the people I have talked to love Amtrak. It is a great way to 
commute to work, takes cars off our congested highways, and improves 
the environment. In many areas of the country, it is the only means of 
public transportation available.
  Now what I can't understand is why the Bush administration, again, in 
the midst of sharp increases in gas prices, continues in its efforts to 
destroy passenger rail in this country. Every industrialized country in 
the world is investing heavily in rail infrastructure because they 
realize that this is the future of transportation. But sadly, as their 
systems get bigger and better, our system gets less and less money.
  While the administration has spent nearly a trillion dollars on the 
war in Iraq, it continues to decrease their requests for Amtrak. This 
year they only requested $800 million for Amtrak's 25.8 million 
passengers. Well, that is an improvement from zero. For Amtrak, just 
one week's investment in Iraq would significantly improve passenger 
rail across the country for an entire year. This is another perfect 
example of how out of touch this administration is because I can assure 
the President that there is a whole lot more support for Amtrak in this 
country than there is for the war in Iraq.
  Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about Amtrak, and it 
is important for people to know the facts. Ridership numbers and ticket 
revenue are at a record level. Outstanding debt has been reduced by 
$600 million over the past 6 years, and many major infrastructure 
projects have been completed. And this has been achieved with a 
workforce that has been reduced by over 4,000 employees. We still have 
a lot of work ahead of us when it comes to Amtrak, and it took a major 
step forward last week when we introduced legislation reauthorizing 
Amtrak at a level that would allow it to grow and prosper. The 
legislation developed by the chairman of the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee, Mr. James Oberstar and myself, and introduced 
with Congressmen Mica and Shuster, provides over $2 billion a year for 
capital and operating grants, $500 million per year for developing 
State passenger corridors, $345 million per year to pay down debt, $345 
million per year for high-speed rail programs, $600 million to start 
working on constructing a new tunnel through Baltimore, and requires a 
plan for restoring service to the Sunset Limited, one of my top 
priorities.
  Major infrastructure improvements are also necessary to improve the 
safety and security of the system and its passengers and workers. 
Amtrak has and will continue to play a critical role in evacuating and 
transporting citizens during national emergencies. Unfortunately, it is 
also a prime target for those who wish to harm us and we must provide 
resources to make the system less vulnerable.
  Fifty years ago, President Eisenhower created the national highway 
system that changed the way we travel in this country. Today we need to 
do the same thing with our rail system, and with Amtrak reauthorization 
we are doing just that.
  The United States used to have a first class passenger rail system. 
However, after years of neglect, we are now the caboose, and they don't 
even use cabooses anymore. The American people deserve better, and I 
believe our Amtrak reauthorization bill will go a long way to restoring 
the American passenger system.

[[Page H3713]]

  I encourage my colleagues to show their support for our Nation's rail 
system and its employees by holding events at our local commuter train 
stations any time during the year, and I would also encourage Members 
to cosponsor H.R. 6003, the Amtrak reauthorization bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I enthusiastically support this resolution recognizing National Train 
Day. The ceremonial golden spike hammered on May 10, 1869, marked the 
completion of one of this Nation's greatest engineering masterpieces, 
and marked the birth of what would become the greatest rail network in 
the world.
  The United States now has 140,000 miles of railroads, making up the 
transportation backbone of this Nation. These railroads are 
environmentally friendly, producing significantly less pollution than 
competing modes of transit. In fact, a train can haul one ton of 
freight 436 miles on one gallon of diesel fuel, and is three times 
cleaner than a truck. Furthermore, trains help alleviate congestion on 
our crowded highways. One train can take 280 trucks off the road.
  The recently introduced Amtrak reauthorization, H.R. 6003, will make 
significant enhancements to Amtrak's growing business. The legislation 
will give Amtrak the funding it needs to continue improving its service 
while also creating innovative programs to enhance passenger rail 
service.
  The State grants provision in the bill will give a greater say in how 
Federal funding is utilized for capital projects, and a private 
operator pilot program will increase innovation and competition in 
passenger rail service.
  Additionally, H.R. 6003 includes a plan to create public-private 
partnerships to construct true high speed rail corridors all over the 
Nation. High-speed rail promises safe, fast and convenient service, all 
the while helping to alleviate aviation and highway congestion. I urge 
passage of H. Res. 1176.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida has 13\1/2\ 
minutes remaining.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).
  Mr. CASTLE. I thank the distinguished chairwoman of the House 
Railroads Subcommittee for yielding me this time.
  We have heard many words of accolade for our railroads. I would like 
to second some of that. This marks the 139th anniversary of the 
completion of the transcontinental railroad, indeed a very strong 
engineering feat in our country's history.
  Today, with gas prices soaring, which we have had a debate already on 
this floor, congestion building on our highways, and concern about 
greenhouse gases on the rise, we need to address this. The I-95 
corridor is in difficult shape with respect to all of these issues.

                              {time}  1530

  Highway congestion has become a critical problem, costing Americans 
4.2 billion hours and 2.9 billion gallons of fuel, sitting in traffic 
delays.
  In contrast, passenger railroads are one of the cleanest forms of 
transportation. It emits only 0.2 percent of transportation industry's 
greenhouse gases.
  Between Boston and Washington, D.C., ridership on Amtrak has surged 
by 20 percent, representing enough new passengers to fill 2000 757 
jetliners.
  As a co-chair of the House Passenger Rail Caucus, and as one who 
takes Amtrak on a regular basis, and I've seen the increase in the 
crowds on it and talked to many people on it, I realize that this truly 
the future, and something that Congress should be paying a lot of 
attention to in terms of supporting the need for future legislation in 
dealing with the issues of Amtrak and rail travel in our country.
  I thank Chairwoman Brown for her strong leadership, and encourage all 
the Members of the House to support this legislation.
  I'd just like to point out, as I often have in speaking about Amtrak, 
Mr. Speaker, we really need to look at our highways and our airports as 
well. This is one way of relieving a good number of those burdens. And 
hopefully we can pass this legislation and pay a lot more attention to 
what we're dealing with on rail travel in this country in the future.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. I will continue to reserve my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I yield 3 minutes to the Congresswoman 
from California, my friend, Mrs. Grace Napolitano.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House 
Resolution 1176, supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day. 
And I do congratulate the hard work that's gone into transportation on 
rail, because I sit on the subcommittee, I see the great need and the 
great movement that is happening.
  The National Train Day recognizes the day when Central Pacific and 
Union Pacific railroads were joined in a golden spike Promontory 
Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869. Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF both run 
through my cities. One has 90 freight and passenger trains, and BNSF 
has 75 freight and passenger trains daily, carrying over $400 billion 
in annual trade for this Nation.
  We must continue to work to relieve the public problems caused by 
railroads, the traffic delays at great crossings, the air quality 
concerns from pollution, the noise from the whistles and the rail cars 
and the safety concerns over derailments and other accidents.
  I know that we have been able to understand a lot more of what the 
railroads need from us here in Congress, but, by the same token, I 
think they continue to try to be good citizens.
  This House has passed H.R. 2095, the Federal Railroad Safety 
Improvement Act of 2007. That bill takes a major step forward in 
addressing safety concerns with our railroads. We urge the Senate to 
pass this bill quickly.
  H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investments and Improvement Act of 2008 
was introduced by the Transportation Committee this week. This will be 
a much needed investment as was recognized in Amtrak in our passenger 
rail system.
  Earlier we heard from speakers talking about the price of gas. Well, 
the more people get on trains and Amtrak, the better off that we're 
going to be able to meet those demands.
  The Railroad Subcommittee will hold a hearing on this bill tomorrow.
  I thank Chairwoman Brown for authorizing this resolution and Chairman 
Oberstar for his leadership on this issue.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. I will continue to reserve my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate that 50 
years ago, Eisenhower created a national highway system that changed 
America. Today we need to do the same thing with our rail system; and 
with this Amtrak reauthorization, we're doing just that.
  The United States of America used to be the first as far as passenger 
rail was concerned. And I say it over and over again, now we are the 
caboose. And we don't use cabooses anymore. The American people need 
and deserve better.
  Let me also mention that joining us on celebrating Amtrak National 
Train Day were 150 ladies from the Hope Chapel Church who rode from 
Jacksonville to Winter Park. And also, we had over 60 activities 
throughout the country. Participating in those activities were the 
Harlem Globetrotters and many Members of Congress.
  I, in closing, am very excited about moving this country forward as 
far as making sure that we are no longer the caboose.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I also want to urge adoption of 
this resolution. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida and the 
ranking member, Mr. Shuster, for bringing it forward. I also want to 
compliment them and their staffs for the hard work that they are 
pursuing now on the Amtrak reauthorization.
  Again, I urge adoption.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House 
Resolution 1176, which supports the goals and ideals of National Train 
Day.
  National Train Day marks the 139th anniversary of the ``golden 
spike'' being driven into the ground at Promontory Summit, Utah, in 
1869. The golden spike bound the last tie connecting the last rail that 
united the Central Pacific Railroad with the Union Pacific Railroad,

[[Page H3714]]

connecting the United States by rail from coast to coast.
  The transcontinental railroad was born thanks to the support of 
President Abraham Lincoln. He, along with Civil War leaders, envisioned 
and planned the creation of the railroad. Not only did the completion 
of the railroad result in the ability to deliver goods and people 
across the country, it ultimately bound the East with the West, further 
unifying the country as the divide between the North and the South was 
beginning to mend.
  The transcontinental railroad was the first of its kind. It was an 
engineering marvel completed with great precision and speed. The 
railroad was an engineering wonder and it set the example for how 
transcontinental railroads would be built across Canada and Russia some 
20 to 25 years later.
  Completion of the transcontinental railroad created a new sense of 
wonder and enthusiasm for discovery and entrepreneurship across the 
country. It set the stage for a great migration of businessmen, created 
a new frontier for those seeking a new way of life, enabled faster 
movement of people and goods, and provided the country with a great 
opportunity to expand the economy.
  Today, we are witnessing a rebirth of passenger rail in America. In 
the same way that the transcontinental railroad was critical to our 
Nation in the late 19th century, a strong national passenger rail 
system is vital today. To strengthen intercity passenger rail in this 
country, I have introduced H.R. 6003, the ``Passenger Rail Investment 
and Improvement Act of 2008.'' The bill authorizes $14.4 billion for 
Amtrak over the next 5 years. The Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure will mark up the bill next week.
  The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, more commonly known as 
Amtrak, operates a nationwide rail network, serving more than 500 
destinations in 46 states over 21,000 miles of routes, with nearly 
19,000 employees. Amtrak recently marked the beginning of its 38th year 
of operation. Our passenger rail service has come a long way since its 
beginnings in 1971, and has faced many challenges since, but continues 
to grow stronger with each passing year. Despite uneven Federal 
investment over the years, Amtrak has persevered, achieving many 
successes in improved operating efficiency, increased ridership, and 
higher revenue.
  In fact, in FY 2007, Amtrak set a new ridership record for the fifth 
year in a row, exceeding 25.8 million passengers. At the same time, 
Amtrak increased ticket revenues by 11 percent to more than $1.5 
billion, a figure that increased for the third straight year. These 
successes are being enjoyed across Amtrak's entire network. In fiscal 
year 2007, Amtrak held 56 percent of the air/rail market between New 
York and Washington and 41 percent of the market share between New York 
and Boston. This shows that where Amtrak is provided the resources to 
succeed, it provides a trip-time competitive alternative to air and 
automobile.
  America needs to look toward Amtrak as we address our growing 
transportation needs. The Department of Transportation describes the 
problem of congestion on our highways and in the air as ``chronic.'' 
Amtrak removes almost 8 million cars from the road annually. Airports 
are experiencing significant delays too, with more than 400,000 flights 
departing or arriving late in 2006. Amtrak eases air congestion by 
eliminating the need for 50,000 fully loaded airplanes each year.
  Amtrak is also a substantially more environmentally friendly mode of 
transportation than automobiles or airplanes. According to the World 
Resources Institute, rail transportation produces 57 percent less 
carbon emissions than airplanes, and 40 percent less carbon emissions 
than cars.
  Mr. Speaker, I lend my strong support to the commemoration of 
National Train Day on May 10, 2008, and encourage all of my colleagues 
to use this excellent opportunity to reflect on the benefits that 
Amtrak and intercity passenger rail provide to our Nation.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1176.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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