John Mica

The total cost of that leg is about $6 billion I, maybe $8 billion when we get through.

I think it can be done in a third of the time and probably a third of the money if we included private sector partnerships.

We do only have really one high-speed rail project underway in the United States, the Northeast Corridor.

I think you're holding the Northeast Corridor hostage. I think we should have four or five times the passengers.

I defended the position of labor in that instance for resolution, where the brothers and sisters who were in the freight rails have consistently been able to resolve their issues working with the private sector.

I think you could dramatically increase the employment in Amtrak and you could also dramatically increase the private sector employment.

I think we do need liability reform. And Mr. DeFazio has pointed out we do need adequate protection.

If there wasn't an Amtrak you would create one to make certain that we had a national rail passenger service.

I guarantee you, whether I'm here or not, Congress will change the rules.

I would like to get them out of providing any of the State-supported intercity passenger rail service.

I would be glad to leave it open for 30 days for the Minority to submit the--a Minority section to the report.

I share the gentlelady's concern, and I have read that title.

I am most pleased to grant the lady's request for a moment of silence in the committee.

Amtrak retaliated by filing a suit in Federal district court alleging that the private contractor wrongfully recruited and enticed members of Amtrak staff.

In every case, Amtrak either lost the competition to a private operator, or... withdrew during the course of the competition.

I am also fully committed to making certain that their labor agreements are adhered to, and that they receive full compensation and benefits according to the agreements they have received.

I believe that where the systems can meet the needs and make sense and have good routes and service, they are an excellent investment of taxpayer funds.

We should make Amtrak a success story. But we have got a ways to go.

I'm hoping that we can get to a different model, and a model that does have the least amount of subsidization.

I commonly do, because it still relies too much on Government and not privatization.

Frankly, a bill that came out of the Senate would have been harmful to competition.

Amtrak should not be allowed to use taxpayer funds to sue private entities for competition-related lawsuits.

Amtrak should not be in the commuter rail business at all.

I know we have been talking to Lynx. We have several systems coming into this location on both the commuter rail and now other service that FEC is proposing.

I think that that 120-bed capacity, if we could double that, using Lake Baldwin for that facility, and then a full service clinic would be beneficial.