Political Quotes

“Today the Senate holds the future of Amtrak in its hands. The legislation before us seeks to put Amtrak's financial situation on a track to self-sufficiency. We have delayed action on Amtrak for three years and we cannot afford to delay it any longer. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee for the last 3 years, I have listened to Amtrak and its detractors discuss the problems and the potential for passenger rail service. The committee, first under the leadership of Senator Lott, and now under the leadership of Senator Hutchison, chair of the Surface Transportation Subcommittee, have reported out tough but fair reform bills that put the burden on Amtrak to prove it can survive without a Federal operating subsidy. I want to express my support for the amendment offered by Senator Hutchison and my appreciation for her dedication to moving the reform process forward. She has fought a difficult battle because of her belief in the importance of maintaining a national passenger rail system, and I would like to commend her for her hard work and dedication to reform.”