Joel Hefley: “What do the Americans think of when they hear the statement ``free of Federal subsidy''? What about…”

“What do the Americans think of when they hear the statement ``free of Federal subsidy''? What about ``self-sufficiency''? I think these terms refer to programs that receive no Federal funding. It means that the program runs like a business and its survival is dependent upon its business practices and its customers. Madam Speaker, someone needs to tell this to Amtrak. Tom Downs, Chairman and CEO of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, or Amtrak, has been frequently quoted as saying Amtrak could become a self-sufficient operation if Congress would give it a permanent source of funding. Amtrak was created in 1970 as an independent and self-sufficient corporation and was given a one-time grant of $40 million. Twenty-seven years and $19 billion later, I would think Amtrak and Congress would realize that a dedicated funding source is not going to help passenger railroads make money or become self-sufficient. But Amtrak continues to cry ``Show me the money.'' Madam Speaker, let us face it. Amtrak is in crisis. The question is not whether Amtrak can reach sufficiency by 2002, as mandated by Congress. The question has become will Amtrak still be in business next spring? As long as the Federal Government is involved in Amtrak it will not survive, and it is not as if we have not seen the light at the end of the tunnel.”