|
|
Chairman Mica's Statement:
“We all share a commitment to build our nation’s infrastructure and this legislation must do so responsibly. It must be paid for, it must not raise taxes, it must not include earmarks, and it must not add to federal bureaucracy.
“In order to achieve this goal, we must include serious reforms of federal transportation programs to get projects moving and people back to work.
“Particularly in this current economic environment, there is no appetite to keep funneling money into programs in need of a major overhaul, unless we make necessary, meaningful reforms.
“I am concerned that the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund is at risk, however the solution to the Trust Fund solvency problem is not more deficit spending or General Fund transfers. The solution is major reform of programs, cutting wasteful spending and reining in the federal bureaucracy.
“Federal programs are broken when red tape bogs down major highway projects for up to 15 years, increasing project costs and leaving jobs behind. During the stimulus debacle, ‘shovel-ready’ became a national joke because it takes so long to get the bureaucratic approvals for a project. We must cut the red tape and streamline the project approval process. READ MORE -->
“In order to achieve this goal, we must include serious reforms of federal transportation programs to get projects moving and people back to work.
“Particularly in this current economic environment, there is no appetite to keep funneling money into programs in need of a major overhaul, unless we make necessary, meaningful reforms.
“I am concerned that the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund is at risk, however the solution to the Trust Fund solvency problem is not more deficit spending or General Fund transfers. The solution is major reform of programs, cutting wasteful spending and reining in the federal bureaucracy.
“Federal programs are broken when red tape bogs down major highway projects for up to 15 years, increasing project costs and leaving jobs behind. During the stimulus debacle, ‘shovel-ready’ became a national joke because it takes so long to get the bureaucratic approvals for a project. We must cut the red tape and streamline the project approval process. READ MORE -->
High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail:
Rep. Bill Shuster, PA
High-speed and Intercity Passenger Rail: The Obama Administration's high-speed rail program was funded by the President's massive stimulus in 2009, but the Administration squandered billions of dollars and any chance of developing true high-speed rail anywhere in the United States. The Administration scattered the $8 billion in stimulus money to numerous slow-speed projects. In fact, Amtrak hijacked 76 of the 78 (Editor's note: How could Amtrak hijack the money - someone in DC had to approve the check being written) initial stimulus projects, none of which were truly high-speed rail projects. The governors of Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida all rejected major projects that would not have resulted in high-speed service. The only project the Administration chose with any high-speed potential was in California, but the cost of that project has skyrocketed. When the Transportation Committee approved the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act in February 2012, it voted to prevent further federal funds from going to this controversial and troubled project.
The region of the country where high-speed rail makes the most sense and could succeed with private sector participation is in the Northeast Corridor (NEC). On June 15, 2011, Chairman Mica and Chairman Shuster outlined a plan to bring competition to high-speed rail and intercity passenger rail in the NEC and the United States. By offering the private sector the opportunity to bring its resources and expertise to the table, we can lower costs, create jobs, increase efficiency, and improve passenger rail service nationwide. After 40 years of costly and wasteful Soviet-style operations under Amtrak, it is time to create competition in passenger rail.
Amtrak Oversight & Reform: Amtrak has a lengthy history of mismanagement and wasting taxpayers’ money. In recent years, the passenger rail service has been found to have improperly removed its Inspector General, spent millions on outside legal services without proper management or oversight, mismanaged the acquisition process for the Acela train, and poorly managed its food and beverage service.
Amtrak receives federal funding in excess of $1.5 billion annually, and each ticket sold is subsidized by an average of $49.19. We must cut waste at Amtrak. Greater accountability and strong reform of the rail service will help stem Amtrak's financial hemorrhaging and provide substantial taxpayer savings. READ MORE - ->
The region of the country where high-speed rail makes the most sense and could succeed with private sector participation is in the Northeast Corridor (NEC). On June 15, 2011, Chairman Mica and Chairman Shuster outlined a plan to bring competition to high-speed rail and intercity passenger rail in the NEC and the United States. By offering the private sector the opportunity to bring its resources and expertise to the table, we can lower costs, create jobs, increase efficiency, and improve passenger rail service nationwide. After 40 years of costly and wasteful Soviet-style operations under Amtrak, it is time to create competition in passenger rail.
Amtrak Oversight & Reform: Amtrak has a lengthy history of mismanagement and wasting taxpayers’ money. In recent years, the passenger rail service has been found to have improperly removed its Inspector General, spent millions on outside legal services without proper management or oversight, mismanaged the acquisition process for the Acela train, and poorly managed its food and beverage service.
Amtrak receives federal funding in excess of $1.5 billion annually, and each ticket sold is subsidized by an average of $49.19. We must cut waste at Amtrak. Greater accountability and strong reform of the rail service will help stem Amtrak's financial hemorrhaging and provide substantial taxpayer savings. READ MORE - ->