Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, residents and local businesses along the way have expressed concerns about the upcoming high-speed rail project being built along Florida's east coast and through my district. A high number of fatalities have already been associated with the train since the South Florida operations began in 2018. In fact, over the past 3 years, 75 deaths have been reported along the rail corridor, with more than 40 deaths involving the new high-speed train. Last year, the Associated Press analyzed data from the Federal Railroad Administration and concluded that the project had ``the worst per-mile death rate of the Nation's 821 railroads.'' These trains will travel at fast speeds through existing town centers and residential areas in my district, with little separating the tracks from the surrounding communities. I have had concern for local schools in my district. There are several that are positioned very close or adjacent to the tracks; Gifford Middle School and North County Elementary School in Vero Beach, and Ascension Catholic School in Melbourne, just to name a couple of them. Many students walking to and from school must cross these tracks, and we all have an interest in their safety. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague, Congressman Brian Mast, for working together with me on this amendment, and for standing up for the safety of our constituents.…”