Trent Lott: “This is legislation we need to consider. It needs to be considered in the full light of day with amendments in order. We…”

“This is legislation we need to consider. It needs to be considered in the full light of day with amendments in order. We did have a full consideration of the bill in the Commerce Committee with amendments offered. Some were adopted and some were rejected. I voted for the legislation. We need to move forward on the reform of Amtrak. We are in the process of putting additional money in Amtrak right now, and I support both the loan the administration is working out and perhaps additional money in the supplemental. Having said that, I do note also that we have to make tough choices. Do we want a national rail passenger system or not? If we do, we have to figure out what kind of reforms we can put in place that will save money or provide additional money; what lines are we going to keep open and keep running or not; if and how much we are going to have to pay for it. If the American people, through their Representatives and Senators, do not want to vote for additional funds, then that is one choice. I spoke passionately on the floor in 1997 when we passed Amtrak reform legislation. I made a commitment on this floor and to the American people that I supported this because I thought it could become self-supporting. I was wrong. I have to admit that. Now the question is, Do we want to continue to have Amtrak or not? I think we should. I still think it is an important mode of transportation we should not sacrifice. But the Congress is going to have to come to terms with reform.”