Hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee - Nomination of Joseph H. Boardman for Federal Railroad Administration

SCHUMER INTRODUCES JOSEPH BOARDMAN AT SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING

Upstate New Yorker, Boardman Nominated To Head Federal Railroad Administration

Schumer: Boardman's Upstate New York Experience Offers Key Perspective On Need For Amtrak

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today introduced Joseph H. Boardman, the Administration's nominee to head the Federal Railroad Administration at the confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Commerce Committee today. Boardman, currently the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation, was raised in Oneida County, but served in key transportation positions across the Mohawk Valley and the Greater Binghamton area. In his remarks, Schumer said Boardman knows the importance of Amtrak because of his experience living and working in New York.

"New Yorkers know better than anyone the importance of a first-rate rail system and that is why I am proud to support Joe for this very important post," Schumer said. "We need as many people as possible fighting for Amtrak and Joe is a committed partner in this fight. Joe has the background, the experience, and the intellect to serve an effective FRA Administrator."

On March 17th, President Bush announced that he would nominate Joe Boardman to be the next head of the Federal Railroad Administration taking over for acting Administrator Robert Jameson who replaced Betty Munro, after her resignation late last year. Boardman will go before the full Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. If the committee approves his confirmation, it will be sent to the full Senate for final approval. Boardman, raised on a dairy farm in Oneida County, worked in Elmira, Rome, and Utica before serving as the Broome County Commissioner of Public Transportation.

Schumer has been outspoken in his support for Amtrak and has vowed to stop the Administration from shutting it down. The President's budget which was sent to Congress includes no money for Amtrak's operating expenses and would effectively shut Amtrak down on October 1, the first day of the US Government's fiscal year. In 2004, more than 10.3 million passengers took Amtrak in New York State. Last year, 1.1 million passengers rode the Empire Corridor, connecting NYC, Albany and Western New York. Schumer said that thousands of businesses rely on Amtrak service for convenient travel not only to major cities such as Albany, Boston, Washington but also to numerous destinations throughout New York State including Buffalo, Hudson, Syracuse, and the rest of the country. Over the last 7 years, Amtrak has invested more than $1 billion in New York State alone.

In his introduction, Schumer said, "Rail safety and the preservation of Amtrak are the two most pressing issues confronting Commissioner Boardman as he takes the reigns of the FRA. I have full confidence that Commissioner Boardman will be an ally in the fight to make our rail lines safer, though the use of tougher regulation, heavier penalties for negligent railroad companies, and the expansion of available modern technology."

In the wake of the recent railroad accidents across the country, Schumer, along with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), introduced bipartisan legislation in February that would expand the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) ability to reduce railroad accidents by increasing penalties for safety violations and accidents, and requiring new steps to advance the use of modern rail safety technology.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2005/PR41588.Boardman.041205.html