Bi-Cameral delegation forms High-Speed and Intercity Rail Caucus

The founding members of the Bi-Cameral High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Caucus recently joined together at Washington's Union Station to announce the formation of a coalition that will serve as the leading advocates to advance high-speed and intercity rail programs across the country. The caucus' members are Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), along with Congress members Corrine Brown (D-FL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), David Price (D-NC), Tim Walz (D-MN) and John Olver (D-MA) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). According to a statement on Rep. Slaughter's Website, the caucus will be dedicated to supporting federal legislative and funding policies to ensure the long-term viability of the high-speed and intercity passenger rail program. Each founding Co-Chair represents a region containing a major high-speed and intercity rail corridors that, when completed, will make up a national high-speed rail network anticipated to both directly and indirectly spur the creation of hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs across the country. The Obama Administration has set the goal to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years. Lawmakers gathered to argue that funding for high-speed and intercity rail programs are exactly the type of bold investment necessary to increase America's competitiveness. "Like President Obama, we share the goal of giving 80 percent of Americans access to high speed rail within 25 years," said Congresswoman Slaughter. "We understand that this investment will more than pay for itself with the jobs created for Americans in need of work and opportunities it creates for future growth. As rail lines open and communities are brought closer together, the potential long-term impact of rail service will only grow. I represent Upstate New York, which is home to the busiest freight corridor in the nation, stretching between Buffalo and Albany. A dedicated third track for high-speed, intercity travel will mean $1.1 billion in new wages and 21,000 estimated new jobs in my home state alone." "High-speed rail needs to play a bigger role in our nation's overall transportation system so we can move people and goods from one place to another faster and more efficiently," said Congressman Price. "Planned rail investments will relieve congestion, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and create jobs - including 20,000 jobs in North Carolina. If we want to stay competitive in the international economy, we simply cannot continue to lag behind countries like China in developing a 21st Century infrastructure. We must invest in a smarter transportation system that includes high-speed rail."