Trent Lott: “I take a few moments to talk about Amtrak and the intercity passenger rail. Several years ago, during the 1990s, I…”

“I take a few moments to talk about Amtrak and the intercity passenger rail. Several years ago, during the 1990s, I worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass Amtrak reform. We got it done. It provided some improvements in Amtrak. It gave the Amtrak board some additional authorities, some of which they have used successfully and some of which they have not taken advantage of. I even said at that time I was convinced they could become self-sufficient, that they could make enough changes, they could make enough off revenue that we would not have to continue to pass funds each year through the appropriations project for Amtrak. I now am prepared to admit that is not going to happen. If we want a national rail passenger system, we have to figure out exactly what we want, how much are we willing to pay for it, and how that will happen. I don't think we can do it with appropriations bills each year. We are going to have to think more broadly and be innovative in what we allow the Amtrak board to do. Some of the lines will probably have to be shut down and some of the services curtailed. We have to make that decision. In the appropriations bill that passed a week or so ago, the Treasury, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill, funds were included and some small reform provisions. We have to go beyond that. We have to have some broader reform.…”