Amtrak is one of our most efficient modes of transportation. It provides a vital alternative to our clogged highways. We need to finally start investing adequate resources in Amtrak to allow the railroad to provide stable, reliable service.

We spend approximately $50 billion a year on highways and aviation, but only about $1 billion on Amtrak. We hear that Amtrak funding should be cut because the railroad is not profitable or is inefficient or mismanaged. Amtrak has had its problems, but they are largely a result of being systematically underfunded for 30 years. Deliberately forcing Amtrak into bankruptcy, destroying it, should be unthinkable.

We do not require highways or the air transport system to be self-sufficient or profitable. No transportation system is self-sufficient, and we should not require that of Amtrak either. It is an illusory goal. We should fund our transportation systems because they provide an important public service. They are critical to the economy and a vital part of national security.

On September 11, 4 years ago, Amtrak was the only mode of transportation into and out of New York City. Redundancy in transportation is key for national security. This amendment will restore Amtrak funding to close to last year's level and will avert a shutdown of the railroad. It ought to be adopted. I urge my colleagues to vote for it.

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Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the LaTourette-Oberstar amendment to restore funding for Amtrak.

The FY06 TTHUD Approps bill funds Amtrak at a paltry $550 million--a cut of $650 million
from last year's level, which was barely enough to keep Amtrak running. This is simply a backdoor attempt to shut down the railroad--to guarantee an Amtrak bankruptcy. We simply cannot allow this to happen.

Amtrak is of particular concern to me given that my district contains Penn Station in New York City, the largest Amtrak Station in the country. In New York alone, Amtrak carries over 10 million passengers a year, employs over 2,000 New York residents, and contributes over $96 million in wages a year.

Amtrak is one of the most energy efficient modes of transportation. It provides a vital alternative to our clogged highways. We need to finally start investing adequate resources in Amtrak to allow the railroad to provide stable, reliable service. We spend approximately $50 billion a year on highways and aviation, but only about $1 billion on Amtrak. We hear that Amtrak funding should be cut because the railroad is not profitable or is inefficient or mismanaged. Amtrak has had its problems but they are largely a result of being underfunded for about thirty years. Deliberately forcing Amtrak into bankruptcy--destroying it--should be unthinkable.

We don't require highways or the air transportation system to be self-sufficient or profitable, and we shouldn't require that of Amtrak either. We should fund our transportation systems because they provide an important public service, they are critical to our economy, and a vital part of our national security. On September 11, 2001 Amtrak was the only mode of transportation into, or out of, New York City. Redundancy is key for national security, and we must preserve all modes of transportation, including rail.

The LaTourette-Oberstar Amendment will restore Amtrak funding to close to last year's level and will avert a shutdown of the railroad. It is essential that this amendment pass, and I urge all my colleagues to support it.