[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 101 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PASSENGER RAIL INVESTMENT AND IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CAROL SHEA-PORTER

                            of new hamsphire

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2008

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 6003) to 
     reauthorize Amtrak, and for other purposes:

  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to voice my support for 
H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. 
And I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar for his leadership on this 
issue.
  Mr. Chairman, as gas prices continue to rise and our highways become 
more congested, it becomes even more critical for us to support and 
encourage mass-transit alternatives. Amtrak will surely continue to 
play a significant role as one of these alternatives.
  My home State of New Hampshire is served by the Amtrak Downeaster, 
connecting Portland, Maine to Boston. The Downeaster has truly been a 
success story from the beginning of its service in 2001. Ridership 
numbers have continued to increase year after year, highlighting the 
importance of Amtrak service to the region. In fact, so far this fiscal 
year, ridership of the Downeaster has reached nearly 300,000.
  Yet even a rail line as successful and as important to our region as 
the Downeaster has difficulties turning a profit. While there are 
improvements to be made at Amtrak overall, passenger rail service in 
general requires investment and dedication. As we have seen with the 
Downeaster, this dedication yields significant returns in tourism and 
business dollars that come as a result of improving access to the 
communities served.
  I look forward to voting in favor of H.R. 6003 and urge my colleagues 
to do the same.

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