On the recordJune 4, 2015
This amendment prohibits the Department of Transportation from making a Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing loan that exceeds $600 million, as the chairman said. Now, I know that $600 million, frankly, is a lot of money, and it sounds like a lot of money because it is; but when we are dealing with financing of railroad projects, it is just really not. This low loan ceiling is way too restrictive, and it would eliminate valuable projects, by the way, including some safety projects from being even considered for a loan. It has really far-reaching effects, and it could impact, frankly, every railroad entity in America. For example, there are railroads that are using this RRIF loan for positive train control--for positive train control. So, again, it is unduly restrictive. I think it could have some far- reaching, negative effects. So I would respectfully ask for a ``no'' vote. I cannot support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).
