[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1069]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SUPPORTING NATIONAL TRAIN DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2009

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 367. 
This resolution marks the 140th anniversary of the completion of the 
transcontinental railroad and the beginning of America's strong 
dependence on rail transportation.
  Since the golden spike was driven into the final tie at Promontory 
Summit in 1869, our nation has relied on passenger and freight rail to 
build our communities and enhance our way of life.
  And like then, our economic growth depends on the ability to move 
goods and people quickly and reliably.
  For anyone who has driven on the I-95 corridor recently, it is 
strikingly clear that highway congestion has become a critical 
problem--threatening business productivity, increasing safety risks, 
and hindering efforts to improve air quality. In fact, studies have 
shown that travelers in the Northeast waste approximately 700,000 hours 
and 500,000 gallons of fuel sitting in traffic delays every year.
  Fixing our transportation system will take a sustained, long-term 
investment. Last month, President Obama announced a new Strategic Plan 
to build a national high-speed rail network. Now, it is incumbent upon 
us to ensure this plan is effective in addressing the critical mobility 
challenges in heavily congested areas of the country, like the 
Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, DC.
  In 2008, Amtrak set a new record with 28.7 million passengers--
including millions of travelers and commuters in the Northeast. I 
commend Amtrak for its efforts to increase ridership and improve its 
on-time performance over the last several years.
  As cochair of the House Passenger Rail Caucus, and more importantly 
one of the thousands of commuters who rely on Amtrak almost daily, I 
can attest to the accomplishments of our nation's railroads and I look 
forward to joining my colleagues in exploring their untapped potential.
  I thank Chairwoman Brown for her strong leadership on this important 
issue and I congratulate America's railroads in celebrating National 
Train Day.

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