Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008

PASSENGER RAIL INVESTMENT AND IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - June 11, 2008)

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Mr. CUELLAR. I thank the chairman from Minnesota; the chairwoman, Ms. Brown; of course, our ranking members, Mr. Mica and Mr. Shuster, for the leadership that they provided in moving this bill from committee and bringing it down to the floor.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008.

I also would like to thank Chairman Oberstar for including in the manager's amendment a proposed amendment both Rubén Hinojosa and myself have, and I thank them.

The proposed amendment that is part of the manager's amendment would charge the Department of Transportation with studying the feasibility of extending the South Central High-Speed Rail Corridor from San Antonio into south Texas.

South Texas is home to a large population that is a great distance removed from the City of San Antonio. Laredo, my hometown as an example, has been identified as the fastest growing city in the State of Texas, the second fastest growing city in the United States.

South of San Antonio we have four counties in the Rio Grande Valley that boasts a population that's larger than nine States. The State Data Center projects that the population of the greater Laredo and greater McAllen areas will more than double in the next 2 decades.

With the high price of gas and the large geographic distance that separates many of the towns in south Texas, the presence of high-speed rail will make a significant impact on the mobility of south Texans. The presence of high-speed rail in this rapidly expanding region will provide south Texas with greater access and mobility, and I look forward to working with the Department of Transportation to explore those options.

Again, I want to thank you. I applaud the efforts of Chairman Oberstar and his leadership and the ranking members for their leadership.

I thank the Chairman from Minnesota and I thank the Gentleman and Ranking Member MICA for the leadership in moving this bill through committee and bringing it to the floor.

Ms. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008.

This legislation will bring much needed relief and reform to our rail systems by increasing capital and operating grants to Amtrak, developing State Passenger Corridor, and working to Reduce Amtrak's debt.

I would also like to thank the Chairman for including in the manager's amendment the proposed amendment submitted by me.

South Texas is home to a large population that is a great distance removed from the city of San Antonio.

The City of Laredo, the closest major metropolitan area south of San Antonio, is 150 miles away from San Antonio.

Laredo has been identified as the fastest growing city in Texas, and the second fastest growing city in the United States.

The City of Laredo is home to the largest inland port in the nation through which 40 percent of goods trucked into the U.S. are inspected and allowed to pass.

The State of Data Center projects that the population in the greater Laredo area will double in the next couple of decades.

For these reasons, it is my intent that the Secretary consider a south Texas Connection such as the City of Laredo as the location for a potential new connection to the south Central High Speed Rail Corridor.

With the high price of gas and the large geographic distance that separates many towns in South Texas, the presence of high speed rail will make a significant impact on my constituents.

My proposed amendment would charge the Department of Transportation with studying the feasibility of extending the South Central High-Speed Rail Corridor to serve the burgeoning population south of San Antonio.

I believe that the presence of high-speed rail in the rapidly expending area in South Texas will provide my constituents with a new way to travel, and I look forward to working with the Department of Transportation to explore these options.

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