Annie Kuster: “Today I rise in support of the Federal Transit Administration's New Starts and Small Starts program, which provides…”

“Today I rise in support of the Federal Transit Administration's New Starts and Small Starts program, which provides critical grant funding for the creation or extension of existing fixed guideway transit systems. Funding for these projects has facilitated the creation of dozens of new or extended public transportation systems in rural, suburban, and urban communities all across this country. By creating good-paying construction jobs and connecting job-seeking commuters with employers, New Starts offers significant benefits to communities that are in need of rail expansion. In New Hampshire and across New England, we have been working collaboratively with our neighboring States to create a unified vision for our region's rail networks. I was pleased to host a rail summit just a few weeks ago that brought together regional stakeholders and officials from the Federal Railroad Administration, the FTA, and New England States. As we continue to work on the highway bill this week, I urge my colleagues to support Congressmen Lipinski, Nadler, and Dold's amendment, which will restore much-needed local flexibility for New Start projects. ____________________”