I would say the system is broken. Something went wrong.

Thank you for this opportunity to submit written testimony on behalf of the millions of Americans who depend on Amtrak intercity passenger rail service.

I expect this title to not only include Amtrak reauthorization and other passenger rail provisions, but also a robust investment in freight rail infrastructure.

This investment would have far-reaching, positive impacts by increasing jobs--many of them good-paying union jobs, making our businesses more competitive, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

As we work now on the surface transportation reauthorization bill, I always go back and think that--oftentimes people refer to this as the highway bill, sometimes the highway and transit bill.

One thing I hope we can all agree upon, though, is that we need a robust level of funding for megaprojects which are critical to freight movement in our country and other projects critical to transportation in the country that, really…

Finally, we need to permanently authorize the 45G tax credit to give the short line rail industry the investment certainty they need.

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing us today, and there is an urgent need for bipartisan solutions.

Any proposals from Amtrak to end other long-distance train services will be met with similar congressional reaction.

I am a strong advocate for Amtrak service, and passenger rail in general.

This is a critical time to be looking at the issues as we begin drafting this legislation.