On the recordApril 2, 2014
Mr. President, I rise today to talk about one of the most recent American transportation success stories--Amtrak's Northeast corridor--and how Congress can help it grow. First, however, I would like to thank two great leaders on the Senate Appropriations Committee. First, our chair, Barbara Mikulski--she is from the Northeast corridor. I often stop by in Baltimore as I take the train from New York to Washington. She has been a staunch defender of Amtrak from the day she got here. And Patty Murray who is chairman of the transportation subcommittee. She is not from the Northeast corridor but, of course, cares very much about Amtrak across the Nation and has been a defender of those of us who care about Amtrak and depend on Amtrak in the Northeast, as well as throughout the whole country. In tough budget times, these two folks have stood up for Amtrak from one end of the Nation to the other, and we very much appreciate that. Now, as the committees begin their work on the fiscal year 2015 appropriations, my colleagues and I are here to urge something that will benefit millions of riders on the Northeast corridor, which runs from Boston to Washington, DC. We are mindful of the fact we depend on national support for Amtrak. Even though the Northeast corridor is far and away the most used and the most profitable of the Amtrak lines, we are one Amtrak.…





