On the recordMarch 7, 2018
Yesterday, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao testified before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Secretary Chao acknowledged that President Trump is personally intervening to prevent Federal funding of the Gateway Project, which is the Nation's most critical infrastructure project. Mr. Speaker, the Gateway Project would rebuild the crumbling rail infrastructure that connects New York and New Jersey, a key point in Amtrak and the Northeast corridor's rail line between New Jersey and New York and, also, 415 trains that go through those tunnels each day. New York and New Jersey have promised billions of dollars towards the project, but President Trump is actively undermining Gateway. As anyone who had plans to travel by Amtrak or by rail during last week's cyclone knows, the trans-Hudson track infrastructure connects not just the two States, but the entire region between Boston and Washington, D.C. Because Gateway is so important to everyone in the Northeast, a substantial Federal commitment is necessary to make this project a reality. The Gateway Project is far too important to be left unfunded. Gateway should not be sacrificed because of President Trump's political animosity. ____________________
