Brian Mast: “I appreciate the gentleman yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, I also rise in support of my colleague. I rise in…”

“I appreciate the gentleman yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, I also rise in support of my colleague. I rise in support of my colleague, Mr. Posey's amendment, specifically because what is going on with Virgin Trains and Brightline, it affects my community as well. This project, it goes through some very dense communities with very little room between it and the people who live there. Hundreds of the crossings that we have that go through our community, nearly all of them, are at grade, directly encountering the traffic that they travel so close to. There are several schools in close proximity to the rail tracks, often placing children in significant danger of this project. This amendment, which I am very proud to cosponsor, would divert $2 million from the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing loan program for a study on pedestrian safety related to this project--very worthy cause. This is a commonsense, public safety provision that will help to keep children and people in our community safe. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.”