[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3206-H3207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TAX EXTENDERS/RAIL

  (Mr. ARCURI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, improving our rail infrastructure isn't 
just about getting people and goods from here to there faster and more 
efficiently. It is the heart of regional economic development, 
connecting communities, businesses, consumers, and producers to foster 
the kind of economic growth and job creation we as a Nation need.
  Our short line railroads are at the center of this, but because the 
Tax Extenders Act of 2009 has not been enacted into law, they have been 
unable to plan vital maintenance work this construction season. The 
section 45G short line railroad tax credit included in this bill 
generates 6.9 million work hours of rail maintenance-of-way each year--
the equivalent of more than 3,300 full-time jobs nationwide, not to 
mention the tens of thousands of jobs in America's steel and timber 
industries that make railroad ties and steel rail.
  Our short line railroads are too important to our economic recovery 
to neglect them any longer. It is time for both the House and the 
Senate to come

[[Page H3207]]

to an agreement so we can put Americans back to work and so we can keep 
our railroads operating smoothly.

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