Valerie Foushee: “2023 was a remarkable year for North Carolina passenger rail.”

I look forward to learning more about commuter rail services around the country from our witnesses.

I am hopeful that commuter rail can be part of that solution.

The reality is that ridership estimates for this new system are very low compared to highway or air traffic numbers for one clear reason: they are too slow.

I have no requests for time to speak on this bill, and I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8958, and I yield back the balance of my time.