Joe Baca: “I rise in support of the Quinn Amendment to the Transportation Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2004. If we do not…”

“I rise in support of the Quinn Amendment to the Transportation Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2004. If we do not pass this amendment, Amtrak is guaranteed to close because of lack of funding. Amtrak is a valuable resource to this nation and to my home state of California. It carries millions of passengers every year and employs thousands of workers. This nation is not in the position to lose such a valuable resource. We must continue to fund Amtrak and fund it 100 percent. Last year Amtrak shut down because of lack of funding. This bill is certain to close Amtrak's doors once again this year because it simply provides $900 million in funding. That is not enough to keep Amtrak operating. Amtrak needs $1.8 billion to survive. Amtrak is a company that has not been fully funded since its creation in 1970. We have never given this company the full resources that it needs to survive and it is time to change this. Amtrak provides a valuable resource to commuters and travelers all over this nation, and yet it only absorbs 1 percent of the federal transportation budget. 1 percent! Amtrak last year covered nearly 65 percent of its own operating costs. No rail system in the world is that self funded! It is a good program and it must continue to keep its doors open. We need more job creation right now, not job elimination. Amtrak employs over 20,000 workers. If we allow it to close, what will happen to these families?”