Political Quotes

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I tip my hat also to the Member of Congress whom I call ``Ms. Amtrak,'' ``Ms. Passenger Rail,'' whose passion is evident; who works tirelessly day and night, week after week, to advance the cause of passenger rail in this country, and has been very successful at it, mobilizing public opinion, igniting public imagination. And I appreciate the comments of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), who has been a very constructive and enthusiastic partner in shaping passenger rail. I would say to the gentleman, while the Bush administration twice submitted bankruptcy budgets for Amtrak and twice proposed putting Amtrak up for sale in the private marketplace, there were Members on both sides of the aisle who joined together, including the gentleman, to restore funding for Amtrak to keep it going. The gentleman's fingerprints are all over the Amtrak authorization bill that President Bush signed. That same President Bush, who once said we should terminate Amtrak, signed the bill with a whole new future for Amtrak. And Mr. Mica as well, who is, unfortunately, not here on the floor but who nonetheless played a very significant role in shaping a new future for Amtrak and, as the gentleman from Pennsylvania said, opening the door for private investment in each of the corridors that we crafted in the Amtrak authorization.…”