In Opposition to Cuts to High Speed Rail Funding

Floor Speech

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my opposition to the cuts to high-speed rail included in H.R. 2354, the Fiscal Year 2012 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill.

At a time when this Congress should be focused on creating jobs, investing in our infrastructure, and supporting transportation alternatives, the bill before us unfortunately includes a provision to cut funding for high-speed rail. These cuts are both harmful and short-sighted, and will limit key opportunities for job growth and economic development throughout our nation.

According to a recent study from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, building high-speed rail networks in the U.S. will have a significant positive economic impact. The study shows that in the four urban areas surveyed, high-speed rail could add $19 billion in new business development and 150,000 jobs. We should not be turning our backs on this historic opportunity.

It is clear: investing in rail, whether it is high-speed, or inter-city, has the potential to create desperately-needed jobs in communities around the country. Case in point: in October last year, a contract awarded to the Siemens Transportation Systems manufacturing plant in my district of Sacramento, California to build 70 new electric trains for Amtrak is creating 200 local jobs--not to mention that they employ approximately 64,000 people throughout the country. Not only is Siemens creating jobs, but they are also building a high-quality product that will make train travel more efficient and environmentally friendly. These trains are built in an environmentally-friendly way, using solar energy developed on site.

In Sacramento, rail is not just a part of our history, it is our future.

In April, we broke ground on a track relocation project that will not only improve safety and efficiency, but will pave the way for the development of both an intermodal transportation facility and future economic growth in our downtown. This project is creating 350 jobs onsite, and 1,100 jobs in total. It will also make room for high-speed rail.

What is happening in Sacramento is a snapshot of the interest in rail statewide. The voters in my home state of California have approved plans to build a high-speed rail network that will eventually link Sacramento to San Diego, and communities throughout the state. This high-speed rail line will create jobs, provide viable transportation options to residents and visitors alike, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

But as forward-thinking as California is, progress will be held back if the provisions to cut high-speed rail funding are included in the final version of this bill.

In my district alone, we would lose millions of dollars intended for rail projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This rescission would result in the loss of many jobs and endanger the necessary safety and efficiency improvements need for the tracks between Sacramento and Davis.

I think we can all agree that now is not the time to remove opportunities for improved job growth and economic recovery. Yet, my Republican colleagues are doing just that by including the elimination of funding for high-speed rail in this bill.

It is my hope that the Senate approves a final bill that restores this funding, and that the President signs into law a bill that appropriately invests in our infrastructure: levees and rail alike.

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