Happening Now

FY24 High-Speed Rail Appropriations

Members of the U.S. House that are willing to endorse the bipartisan FY24 High-Speed Rail appropriations request, please email Katie Donahue (Moulton) at [email protected] by COB of Wednesday, Mach 29th.
Senate offices can sign on via Quill; by COB of Wednesday, Mach 29th.

This letter to Senate and House THUD Subcommittees requests $3.5 billion for high-speed rail corridor development in FY24, with at least $350 million set aside for planning grants, and report language directing funding to true high-speed rail systems.

In addition to $3.5 billion for the federal high-speed rail program, with a 10% set aside for planning grants, the letter requests inclusion of the following report language:

"High-speed rail assistance.—The Committee recognizes the importance of high-speed rail for meeting our nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs. The Committee also recognizes that defining a corridor as high-speed requires the project to surpass current speed standards. For this purpose, the Committee directs the Secretary of Transportation and Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration to prioritize grants funded under Chapter 261 of Title 49, United States Code, for passenger rail projects that are reasonably expected to achieve at least 186 miles per hour on new, dedicated right-of way and 160 miles per hour on shared right-of-way. Additionally, the Committee recognizes the value of building a pipeline of high-speed rail projects for development. In order to achieve a robust national network, the Committee directs the Federal Railroad Administration to prioritize planning grants for communities where there is no current high-speed rail passenger service nor construction."

Five Senators have signed on so far (as of March 23): Ossoff, Jon; Warnock, Raphael; Duckworth, Tammy; Warren, Elizabeth; and Padilla, Alex

43 House Members have already signed on (as of March 23): Allred, Colin; Beyer, Donald; Blumenauer, Earl; Bonamici, Suzanne; Bowman, Jamaal; Brown, Shontel; Budzinski, Nikki; Carter, Troy; Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila; Cleaver, Emanuel; Costa, Jim; Courtney, Joe; Davids, Sharice; Davis, Danny; Dean, Madeleine; DeGette, Diana; DelBene, Suzan; Fitzpatrick, Brian; García, Jesús; Gottheimer, Josh; Green, Al; Hayes, Jahana; Himes, James; Jayapal, Pramila; Lee, Barbara; Lofgren, Zoe; Lynch, Stephen; Magaziner, Seth; Matsui, Doris; Moore, Gwen; Moulton, Seth; Norton, Eleanor; Panetta, Jimmy; Ruppersberger, C.; Schakowsky, Janice; Sherrill, Mikie; Smith, Adam; Strickland, Marilyn; Swalwell, Eric; Titus, Dina; Torres, Ritchie; Williams, Nikema.

"It is an honor to be recognized by the Rail Passengers Association for my efforts to strengthen and expand America’s passenger rail. Golden spikes were once used by railroads to mark the completion of important rail projects, so I am truly grateful to receive the Golden Spike Award as a way to mark the end of a career that I’ve spent fighting to invest in our country’s rail system. As Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, it has been my priority to bolster funding for Amtrak, increase and expand routes, look to the future by supporting high-speed projects, and improve safety, culminating in $66 billion in new funding in the Bipartisan infrastructure Law."

Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
March 30, 2022, on receiving the Association's Golden Spike Award for his years of dedication and commitment to passenger rail.