Paul Broun: “This amendment is along the same lines as the amendment I just offered, only it would reduce Amtrak operating grants by…”

“This amendment is along the same lines as the amendment I just offered, only it would reduce Amtrak operating grants by a paltry amount of only $34 million or just a 10 percent reduction. In offering my last amendment, I laid out a number of reasons why Amtrak has failed to be a good steward of taxpayers' money. I understand that many of my colleagues might not want to fully defund this entity, so I am now asking that we join together and send a message to Amtrak leadership, a smaller message, but a strong one nonetheless. I am asking my colleagues to tell Amtrak that we will not continue to reward bad behavior and that, when we ask for reform, we expect real reform to begin and take place--not fuzzy numbers, not misleading reports, not sky-high employee salaries, but real, honest reform. Amtrak has struggled for way too long under the status quo. It is time to send them a message. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.”