Cord Byrd: “the Nation faces a transportation crisis. Amtrak, the country's passenger rail service, is running out of dough…”

“the Nation faces a transportation crisis. Amtrak, the country's passenger rail service, is running out of dough-- D-O-U-G-H--money, that green stuff, funds, what makes the cash registers ring, funds, and its passengers are running out of time. Without an infusion of funding quickly, Amtrak will stop all operations within the next very few days. If Amtrak closes, the Nation's transportation system will be thrown into chaos. All of Amtrak's 68,000 daily riders will be without service. Thousands of vacation passengers who have already paid money for Amtrak tickets will be left stranded at the station. Commuter railroads from East to West will be completely shut down. For example, Washington's Union Station is just a few blocks from this Capitol. None of the Maryland or Virginia commuter rail trains will be able to access Union Station. Why? Because Amtrak owns the station. The Virginia trains will not operate at all because Amtrak runs the trains. The commuter rail authorities in Philadelphia, New York City, and in many parts of New Jersey will stop running. Why? Why will they stop running? Because Amtrak provides the electricity for those trains to operate. Access to Penn Station in New York City the single busiest rail station in the country will be limited. Why? Because Amtrak already has mortgaged away parts of that station.”