[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.
____________________