Hotline #170 - December 21, 2000

The Amtrak Reform Council yesterday posted on its web site "A Summary of Legislation Pertaining to Amtrak." An ARC release says Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration, and ARC agree that December 2, 2002, is the operational self-sufficiency target date, but Amtrak says it will achieve operational self-sufficiency in fiscal 2003, which begins October 1, 2002. Amtrak believes that complies with the law.

Senate Majority Leader Lott and Minority Leader Daschle agreed to co-sponsor and secure early action on the High Speed Rail Investment Act next year. Lott said he is an Amtrak supporter, and that he was "not talking about having [the bill] languish; I am trying to get movement on it in the first three months, six months." Sen. Joseph Biden (D.-Del.), whose filibuster threat helped bring about the leadership commitment, said it was "good enough for me." Because of the importance of what transpired on the Senate floor during the waning hours of the 106th Congress on December 15, here are more excerpts, statements that were made as Senator Lautenberg held the floor to give his farewell speech. (Sen. McCain also recognized the air congestion problem at his September Amtrak hearing).

Sen. John Kerry (D.-Mass.): "I join in thanking the majority leader and the minority leader ... [and] particularly Senator Byrd and Senator Stevens for responding to the request of a number of us from our region ... There was a lot of passion in our caucus earlier this afternoon, and the minority leader listened to all of us very carefully. Our caucus, I must say, was united in its commitment to the notion that those of us who cared about this issue needed to have some kind of response on the floor that indicated where we will go. I am grateful for this response. The commitment on the floor openly, as it has been given, to proceed as we will proceed, particularly from the distinguished ranking member of the Appropriations Committee and the chairman, is as good a commitment as  one can get in the Senate ... With the new Senators coming in, I am absolutely convinced we will have more than 60 sponsors of this legislation."

Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan (D.-N.Y.): "This is a national issue and ought to be addressed by the Congress. We are the only major industrial state in the world that has not sought to recreate and revivify its rail system in the last generation ... We passed the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. We created financial instruments and the possibility of investments to be involved. We can do this. We are on the verge of it. To miss it at this moment would be to miss a moment in history for which I think we will not be happy. But I am so confident, from what I have heard today, that I leave the Senate yet more proud of having been here 24 years, thanking all ... I yield the floor with great satisfaction of what has just transpired. If this is the kind of mode we enter into in January, there is much to expect from the 107th."

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D.-N.J.): "The majority leader made a private statement to me, which I will state publicly. He said, as we ready for my departure, bipartisanship is breaking out all over. And I am not quite sure how that is meant. [He smiles.]"

Sen. Arlen Specter (R.-Pa.): "I compliment [Sen. Lautenberg] for his leadership on Amtrak generally and especially on this current plan for financing. I support Amtrak and believe this proposal to provide this additional funding is very much in the national interest ... I think this is very good for the country that we are going to be moving ahead with this legislation next year, and a very good sign for the 107th Congress that hands are being extended across the aisle to show bipartisanship. If this carries forward in the next year generally, it will be very good for the American people."

Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.): "First of all, I thank [Sen. Lautenberg] for his advocacy and his strong and heartfelt support about the need for a viable railway system in the Northeast and around America. There has been no one in this body who has been more committed to that proposition than [he]. I congratulate him ...

"We will go through a regular process next year to bring up an authorization bill for Amtrak which would then be followed by appropriations. I objected to an appropriation this year because it was $10 billion over 10 years stuck into an appropriations bill for which there had never been a hearing. I hope [Sen. Lautenberg] can understand that.

"The second point is, I urge [Sen. Lautenberg] to consider that we have to make a fundamental choice about the national rail system in America -- not just an east coast rail system but a national rail system. There are many countries in the world, including European countries, that regularly subsidize their railway systems. I understand that. I don't dispute it. Perhaps that decision has to be made in the United States of America and in the Congress of the United States with the cooperation of the administration.

"I remind the Senator from New Jersey that a few short years ago the decision was made to make Amtrak completely independent. Maybe that was not a wise decision. Last year, Amtrak lost, I think, 900 million and some dollars, and will lose another $900 million, or so. I think we need to make a fundamental decision: Is it a high enough national priority?

"I am not prepared to make a decision yet that the taxpayers of America should subsidize a rail system for America. I think the Senator from New Jersey would agree with me that the west coast needs one probably almost as much as the east coast does. We need to make a fundamental decision about what the Government's role will be in a national railway system, and then we need to decide to what degree it is subsidized.

"I think a strong argument can be made by anyone who has tried to fly to Newark, or to LaGuardia, or Kennedy lately that they recognize the difficulties in relying simply on air transportation. I think an argument can be made. But I think it deserves full debate and discussion. I thank [Sen. Lautenberg]. I understand his disappointment on this issue. But I would like to make a personal commitment that his spirit will live on, and we will fully examine and fully ventilate this issue and try to come up with a proposal that will satisfy the needs of his constituents and Americans all over this country. Again, I say that with profound admiration and respect for the Senator from New Jersey."