House Passes $13 Billion Amtrak Authorization With High-Speed Rail Deal
Last Wednesday, the House passed a bill (HR2095) which will give $13 billion to Amtrak. The five-year authorization includes funds for state intercity passenger rail grants and high-speed rail corridor grants.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., said he was confident the bill would pass the Senate.
The House bill was passed by voice vote, which implies that the chamber would vote to override a potential presidential veto.
President Bush has been no friend of Amtrak; each year he has proposed to reduce funding and to privatize the operation.
One sticking point in House and Senate negotiations was over a proposal to allow the Transportation Department to accept bids from private companies for construction of high-speed rail in the Northeast Corridor.
Oberstar allowed the language, but they agreed that no federal funds would be authorized for the actual construction of the high-speed line.
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