Political Quotes

“I thank the chairman and the ranking member. Representative Comstock of Virginia and I have an amendment that is at the desk, and I don't have to tell my colleagues who ride Metro every day to and from work of the issues that WMATA Metro has had with safety, performance, and management. Our bipartisan amendment gives the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation the authority to appoint the four Federal members to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board. Currently, the General Services Administration has this sole authority and shares oversight responsibilities of the Federal board members with the U.S. Department of Transportation. The WMATA board determines the agency's policy and provides oversight for the funding, operation, and expansion of transit facilities. We have worked closely with Senator Mikulski of Maryland on this issue, and she has introduced a bill in the Senate that is cosponsored by all three other local Senators: Senators Cardin, Warner, and Kaine of Virginia. From various conversations we have had, the Secretary of Transportation is also aware of this issue and is supportive of the Department of Transportation taking over. The General Services Administration has stated that ``this was never in our wheelhouse.'' And WMATA does not oppose this change.…”