Hotline #169-B - December 18, 2000

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R.-Miss.) and Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D.-S.Dak.) have pledged early action next year on the High Speed Rail Investment Act. What follows is from the Congressional Record of December 15, the last day the Senate was in session.

Daschle: "Although there are a lot of good things in the [omnibus appropriations] bill we are about to debate, there is one glaring omission -- legislation to provide Amtrak with the authority to issue tax credit bonds for capital improvements. This bonding authority is critical to Amtrak's future and to the economic health of the northeast and many other areas of the country.

"I have discussed this with members of my caucus. We had a very spirited discussion in our caucus this morning, and I know how strongly they support Amtrak and this legislation. We are very disappointed this provision was not included in this otherwise praiseworthy legislation. Amtrak supporters will not give up on passing [HSRIA]. In order to help them secure enactment of this important measure next year, the majority leader and I have discussed and agreed on how best to proceed. I yield the floor to allow the majority leader to describe what the understanding is ..."

Lott: "Mr. President, I thank the Democratic leader for his fine work on this issue. I know there is a lot of passion, a lot of support for Amtrak. But let me remind my colleagues, I am one of those supporters. I have been an active supporter of the national rail passenger system ... I think we need it ... I want to commit to our colleagues here that I will join with Senator Daschle in cosponsoring this legislation next year. We will work together to get the appropriate hearings in the Finance Committee and hopefully in the Commerce Committee, too ... I am on both committees and Senator Daschle will probably be on the Finance Committee, too. We will work with the ranking member and the chairman to get hearings and move this legislation. I cannot guarantee we will have the votes or that it will not be filibustered or that we can break a filibuster, but I think it is the right thing to do ... I believe we can do it early next year. I am not talking about having it languish; I am trying to get movement on it in the first three months, six months ..."

Sen. Joseph Biden (D.-Del.), who had threatened a pro-HSRIA filibuster that would have disrupted Congress' adjournment plans, called the leadership agreement on the HSRIA "good enough for me."

Obviously, passenger rail supporters will need to make their voices heard again so the new Congress will have the votes needed to get the HSRIA passed, and so the Bush Administration will support it. It's not too early to educate the new government about the need for a transportation policy that invests in all modes.