This Congress, we passed three bills that will grow the economy, strengthen our global competitiveness, create good-paying union jobs that can't be sent overseas, and make our communities more resilient--the American Rescue Plan Act, the…

We are thankful for Chair DeFazio's leadership and recognition that we are essential frontline workers...

Thank you for the opportunity to submit this written testimony. In particular, as a citizen of Oregon and member of this community, I want to recognize and thank Chair DeFazio for his longstanding and steadfast commitment to these issues…

We applaud this Committee for exercising your oversight role by holding the July 19 hearing 'Implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.'

Thanks to the IIJA, this is the most exciting time in the history of Amtrak.

Thirty-six years I have been here working these issues, and the forces of inertia and not getting things done in Washington are quite strong.

This was purposely done so federal funding would be directed to frontline workers for our pay and benefits and to prevent growing inequality.

In the face of this challenge, we passed COVID relief: first the CARES Act, and then the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and then the American Rescue Plan Act.

We saved the aviation industry by keeping the employees paid and in status, not directing money as a bailout to the airlines themselves.

But I am proud of the work of this committee, and this Congress as a whole, these last two years--to defeat that sense of inertia and deliver for the American people.

We delivered on the challenges to the transportation sector from COVID-19.

We owe our jobs and a functioning airline industry to Peter DeFazio.

He is an honorary member of our union, and I am proud to call him my friend.

Much of this forward-looking, practice-relevant, and transportation workforce expanding effort was catalyzed through the leadership of Congressman DeFazio fifteen years ago.

It is important that Amtrak continue to receive, in addition to IIJA advance appropriations, annual appropriations at levels that are sufficient to operate all of our existing routes at pre-pandemic service frequencies and maintain our…

I also want to thank Chairman DeFazio in particular for his work in shaping this legislation.

And if the Federal--we haven't adjusted the Federal gas tax--I was here when we did it, 1993.

I am proud of the work of this committee and this Congress, as a whole, for these last 2 years to break through that inertia and deliver for the American people.

The Payroll Support Program worked, full stop.

Donald Trump came in and promised us $2 trillion, delivered nothing.

These essential workers delivered for our nation.

I think we can be very proud of what we have accomplished, and in good part, generated by this committee.

Stock buybacks are a greedy tool that has assisted in massive inequality and growing poverty.

we are pleased that he ends his time in Congress on such a high note.

The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates the deterioration to have a pricetag of over $2 trillion just to bring it up to a state of good repair.