Rep. Frank R. Lautenberg Holds a Hearing On Passenger Rail Systems
Political Transcript Wire › August 14, 2009
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Rep. Frank R. Lautenberg Holds a Hearing On Passenger Rail Systems
U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION, SUBCOMMITTEE ON AVIATION OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND SECURITY HOLDS A HEARING ON PASSENGER RAIL SYSTEMS
FEBRUARY 27, 2007SPEAKERS: SEN. JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, D-W.VA. CHAIRMAN SEN. JOHN KERRY, D-MASS. SEN. BYRON L. DORGAN, D-N.D. SEN. BARBARA BOXER, D-CALIF. SEN. BILL NELSON, D-FLA. SEN. MARIA CANTWELL, D-WASH SEN. FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, D-N.J. SEN. MARK PRYOR, D-ARK. SEN. THOMAS R. CARPER, D-DEL. SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL, D-MO. SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR, D-MINN. SEN. DANIEL K. INOUYE, D-HAWAII EX OFFICIOSEN. TRENT LOTT, R-MISS. RANKING MEMBER SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, R-ARIZ. SEN. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, R-TEXAS, SEN. OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, R-MAINE SEN. GORDON H. SMITH, R-ORE. SEN. JOHN ENSIGN, R-NEV. SEN. JOHN E. SUNUNU, R-N.H. SEN. JIM DEMINT, R-S.C. SEN. DAVID VITTER, R-LA. SEN. JOHN THUNE, R-S.D. SEN. TED STEVENS, R-ALASKA EX OFFICIOWITNESSES: SEN. BOB CASEY, D-PA.GOV. EDWARD G. RENDELL, D-PA.JOSEPH H. BOARDMAN ADMINISTRATOR, FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATIONALEX KUMMANT, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE, NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATIONFRANK BUSALACCHI, SECRETARY, WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONKELLY TAYLOR, ADMINISTRATOR, RAIL DIVISION, OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION[*] LAUTENBERG: If you would, please, those who are going to be at the witness table please take your seats. We welcom you here, and we'll make a couple of notes first please, that long-time chairman of this committee and many others is with us -- Senator Stevens. Senator Lott, unfortunately, was unable to break an appointment that he had in Mississippi, but he fully supports our request for urgent attention to this critical situation. I welcome all of you. Governor Rendell is here, and he's part of the National Governors Conferences taking place. I will make my remarks; then, Senator Stevens, yours; and then we can hear Governor Rendell and see if we have a question or two. And I ask patience of the others of you who are at the witness table.I want to welcome everyone to today's hearing as we begin to fundamentally change the way that America travels. I want to thank all of our witnesses, some of whom come from states that are already embracing this change. And we welcome the input and ideas that each one of you brings.Today's hearing is about Senator Lott's and my vision for our nation's transportation system, a system with more options and convenience for travelers and less damage to our environment, less dependence on foreign oil. Along with air and vehicle travel, passenger rail should be one of the three legs on which our transportation network rests. And Amtrak should be among the greatest passenger rail systems in the world. The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 can help turn that vision into a reality. And as any traveler will tell you, we need to implement that vision because strengthening this intercity travel option is way overdue. Our highways are jammed. The average New Jerseyan spends 300 hours commuting by car every year, and 15 percent of that time is wasted sitting in traffic. We know that our skies are becoming more crowded as...See the full content of this document
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