[Congressional Record: June 11, 2002 (House)]
[Page H3427-H3428]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr11jn02-65]                         



 
           AMTRAK AND THE FUTURE OF OUR PASSENGER RAIL SYSTEM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the important 
issue of Amtrak, and especially do I rise to address the future of our 
passenger rail system in the United States.
  I am pleased to join with all of those who support an increase in 
transportation funding for our Nation's rail line. I encourage my 
fellow colleagues to support the National Defense Rail Act proposed by 
the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson).
  Mr. Speaker, our national passenger rail system is in a state of 
financial crisis. Last week, David Gunn, the president of Amtrak, 
requested $200 million in immediate funding. Without this necessary 
funding, Amtrak will be forced to shut down; perhaps not definitely, 
but even if indefinitely, any disruption of our Nation's rail system 
would be detrimental to the economy as a whole. Therefore, I am pleased 
to have this opportunity to support legislation that will create a 
high-speed national rail service that is on par with the best rail 
systems in the world.
  Over the last 30 years, we have spent $750 billion on our national 
highways and airports, but we have only spent $25 billion on our 
national passenger rail system. Thus, it is not surprising to me that 
out of the 23 most industrialized nations in the world, the United 
States spends the least per capita on its national rail system.
  We now stand at a time where we must decide whether we should keep 
massaging and bailing out Amtrak, lending it just enough money to 
survive, or whether we should create a high-speed train network that 
will encourage more ridership, more expedient service, and a viable 
alternative to aviation or automobile travel.
  In the wake of September 11, we need a world-class high-speed 
national rail system. And in the weeks following the terrorist attack, 
people turned to Amtrak to get home from work or travel. Since travel 
by plane was not an option, the only way to get anywhere was by train. 
Across the country, Amtrak revenue and ridership increased 
significantly. In the northeast corridor alone,

[[Page H3428]]

revenue shot up 13.5 percent, and ridership increased 4.6 percent. If 
we were to improve our national system, revenue and ridership would 
surely increase, easing congestion on our highways and runways.
  Transportation by rail is vital to the economy. Businesses depend on 
it, workers depend on it, and industry depends on it. It is vital to 
the environment. Trains use less fuel, emit less pollution, and cause 
less commuter congestion.
  For much too long, we have ignored the great potential that a world-
class rail system could bring to our country's economy and security. I 
encourage all Members of Congress to join me and my colleagues in 
passing the National Defense Rail Act and support the future of 
expedient travel in the United States. The time has come to invest in 
the future of high-speed rail transportation by overhauling our 
Nation's passenger rail infrastructure.
  I share the vision of the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) and 
urge all of my colleagues to join with us as we propose and develop a 
national rail system second to none in the world.

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