Frank Lautenberg: “together with my good friend--the new Minority Whip--Senator Trent Lott I rise to introduce S. 294, the Passenger Rail…”

“together with my good friend--the new Minority Whip--Senator Trent Lott I rise to introduce S. 294, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007. After several gloomy years, the future of America's passenger railroad is bright. This legislation will provide the necessary resources to bring Amtrak up to speed as a real alternative to taking a plane or driving a car. As we did in the past, we have joined forces to strengthen Amtrak and intercity passenger rail services for all Americans. But today, we introduce an updated version of last Congress's Amtrak reauthorization and passenger rail expansion bill. S. 1516, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement (PRIIA) Act of 2005. I co-authored this legislation with Senator Lott, then Chairman of the Commerce Committee's Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee, so that we could finally provide Amtrak with the funding and support it needs to thrive. The Commerce Committee favorably reported this bill, and Senator Lott and I added it to last Congress's Budget Reconciliation package, where it was adopted by an overwhelming vote of 93 to 6. Despite the bipartisan support, the House failed to act, so Amtrak was left without a necessary reauthorization.”