Pete Sessions: “My amendment is very straightforward. It would eliminate funding for the absolute worst performing line at Amtrak, the…”

“My amendment is very straightforward. It would eliminate funding for the absolute worst performing line at Amtrak, the Sunset Limited, which runs from New Orleans to Los Angeles. The Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997 required that Amtrak operate without any Federal operating assistance after 2002. I have since then offered this amendment each year. Amtrak was supposed to be free of Federal operating subsidy; yet despite this commonsense requirement that Amtrak cease their fiscal irresponsibility and mismanagement, instead, they turned to continuing this line that costs the taxpayers $405.67 for every single ticket that is bought, for every single trip. That is $405.67 to subsidize the travels of passengers from New Orleans to Los Angeles, a trip that takes nearly 48 hours, assuming the train is on time. I believe this is exceedingly unlikely also because it has a terrible record of being on time. According to Amtrak's most recent monthly performance report, the Sunset Limited was only on time 42 percent of the time; yet 100 percent of the $405 was paid for the ticket. This places the Sunset Limited as one of the top 10 worst ontime routes for any of Amtrak's routes in its latest performance report. Perhaps, Mr. Chairman, taxpayers should be happy when the train is not running, but not running on time, and the cost to the taxpayer is prohibitive. Why does it run this route when Amtrak loses an average of $41 million a year? Mr.…”