Rob Woodall: “I want to reiterate the partnership that went on here not just with the underlying bill, but with the amendment process…”

“I want to reiterate the partnership that went on here not just with the underlying bill, but with the amendment process that is happening here, seven amendments available for our colleagues this afternoon. If you don't want to see Amtrak subsidized by the Federal Government--a lot of folks would have kept your voice silent--this amendment process allows your voice to be heard. If you want to make sure that all the folks doing contracting with Amtrak are focused on veterans and veteran-owned small businesses--you want that included in the underlying bill--we have an amendment process today that allows you to add that language. If you are concerned about the inspector general's reports and what they are looking at and how they are calculating it, we give you a chance to make those changes. Issue after issue after issue, Mr. Speaker--again, three Republican ideas, four Democratic ideas--we allow those to come to the floor in this bill. Mr. Speaker, passenger rail is an example of one of those things that divides this country. If you live in California, as the chairman does, you have a spectacular rail system. If you live in the Northeast corridor, you have a spectacular rail system. If you live in the State of Georgia, you can ride your horse to your next destination faster than you can take the train. That is not an inequity that we are going to solve in this bill; and, arguably, we don't even need to solve that inequity.…”