[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6155-S6156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HIGH SPEED RAIL PERMITTING
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, Chairman Murray, and Senator Boxer, I
rise to discuss with you the importance of funding for the Surface
Transportation Board in this legislation, as well as the funding that
Chairman Murray has provided to the Federal Railroad Administration to
continue to administer its grant awards.
As you know, opponents of California's high-speed rail project are
attempting to use the Federal permitting process in order to prevent
the Nation's first high-speed rail project from moving forward and
succeeding.
The Surface Transportation Board funding will provide the resources
necessary to continue the Board's efforts to permit the growth of
passenger rail projects in the United States. The funding in the bill
for the Federal Railroad Administration will ensure that this agency is
able to monitor and administer the grants it already awarded.
Mrs. MURRAY. I am pleased to fund the Surface Transportation Board. I
agree with my colleague from California that this agency needs funding
in order to comply with its governing statute, which directs the Board
to support the growth of rail in the United States.
I share your concern that some opponents of a single project in
California are trying to limit the ability of the Surface
Transportation Board to operate under its statute. The appropriations
bill before us provides the Surface Transportation Board with the
resources necessary to facilitate California high-speed rail, not stand
in its way.
This bill in no way limits the ability of the Board to oversee
projects under its jurisdiction and facilitate their construction.
Ms. MIKULSKI. I agree that this bill in no way limits the ability of
the Board to oversee projects under its jurisdiction and facilitate
their construction.
Mrs. BOXER. Thank you, Chairman Murray and Chairman Mikulski, for
explaining that this legislation will
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allow California high-speed rail to move forward.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I also would like to thank Chairman Murray and
Chairman Mikulski for your explanation.
I am deeply alarmed by attempts in the other body of Congress to
prohibit the Department of Transportation and the Surface
Transportation Board from completing their permitting and oversight
responsibly.
These attempts violate the spirit of federalism. The California high-
speed rail project was approved by California's voters on the ballot,
the legislature has enacted enabling legislation, and the Governor
supports it.
While some may not like this type of transportation investment, it is
the choice that my State has made for their future, and the Federal
Government should respect those decisions.
Furthermore, I strongly believe the Federal permitting process should
not be used as a tool to obstruct and delay major infrastructure
investments of our States.
Permitting infrastructure in California is a notoriously thorough,
long, and comprehensive process. In the years California has analyzed
this one project, China has built thousands of miles of high-speed
rail.
But this year, in an attempt to stymie the project, opponents of
California's plan forced the Surface Transportation Board--an agency
dedicated to protecting fair competition in freight rail--to assert
Federal jurisdiction over California's high-speed rail project.
This new layer of Federal permitting is duplicative of the thorough
5-year-long review performed by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Nonetheless, State and Federal entities complied with this extraneous
requirement. However, now opponents are working vigorously to stall the
actions at the Surface Transportation Board that will allow
construction to finally begin in earnest.
Fortunately, the Surface Transportation Board exists to facilitate
the growth of rail in the United States--not to impede it. As long as
the Board acts quickly within its statutory authority, it will not
impede California's decisions.
Mrs. BOXER. I also share the concerns expressed by Senator Feinstein,
and I would also like to reiterate that the people of California voted
to fund this project. The California State Legislature voted to fund
this project, and the Department of Transportation, after weighing a
number of applications for high-speed rail across the Nation, decided
to fund this project. I find it troubling that opponents have attempted
to hinder the advancement of this project by curtailing an independent
agency's mission and responsibilities, as well as trying to prohibit
the transmission of appropriated funds to its rightful destination.
I am pleased that this legislation will allow the Surface
Transportation Board to act within its statutory authority. I also see
that the legislation will allow the Federal Railroad Administration to
administer its previously awarded grants to California, and I thank
Chairman Murray for advancing this legislation.
I would also like to note that this project is incredibly important
to the future of California. California's 170,000 miles of roadway are
the busiest in the Nation, with automobile congestion draining $18.7
billion in lost time and wasted fuel from the State's economy every
year.
Additionally, flights between Los Angeles and the Bay area, which is
the busiest short-haul market in the United States with 5 million
passengers annually, are the most delayed in the country, with
approximately one in every four flights late by an hour or more.
California's high-speed rail system will not only increase mobility
and save lost time and money over the coming decades, it will also
create near-and long-term employment opportunities, enhance
environmental and energy goals, and spur economic development.
Mrs. MURRAY. As my colleagues know, California has a grant agreement
with the Department of Transportation, and California has spent funds
consistent with that agreement. I was extremely careful to draft the
Senate bill to ensure that California will be able to be reimbursed for
their expenses.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Thank you, Chairman Murray, for ensuring that
California will not be left holding the bag, which is not a fair way
for the Federal Government to treat the States. Were an appropriations
bill to prevent the Federal Government from honoring its grant
commitments, it would set a dangerous precedent. I am concerned that it
would undermine the competitive process.
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