Senate Proceeding on Sep 29th, 2008 :: 1:18:16 to 1:27:14
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1:17:52 to 1:18:16( Edit History Discussion )

Kay Hutchison: also give the other side two additional minutes. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection, so ordered. mr. lautenberg: mr. president, you know, when we look at railroads and the place

1:18:16 to 1:18:36( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: they now must have, it's interesting to see we're fighting now for having quality rail service when we're now almost swamped with interest in ridership. however, on an average day in america two people are

1:18:16 to 1:27:14( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Frank Lautenberg

1:18:36 to 1:18:52( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: killed and more than 24 are injured in railroad-related accidents. now, the recent metro link collision killed 25 and injured 135. it serveas a tragic reminder that we must act to protect the millions

1:18:52 to 1:19:11( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: of passengers that ride trains each day in this country. and yet federal rail safety programs have not been reauthorized since 1994. some railroad employees are working under laws that date back over

1:19:11 to 1:19:25( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: a century ago and it's critical that we bring our safety laws into the 21st century for travelers, for the workers, for rail roarks and our country's -- railroad workers and our country's workers.

1:19:25 to 1:19:40( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: we held two hearings to gain input from the administration, large and small railroads, and rail workers. we were very careful with that. the bill that we put together was reported out of committee

1:19:40 to 1:19:58( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: unanimously. it passed, then, unanimously on the senate floor last month. the bill before us today continues an agreement between the senate commerce committee leaders and our counterparts in the house

1:19:58 to 1:20:15( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: which also passed the rail safety bill. it requires new lifesaving technologies like positive train controls -- ptcc. federal accident investigators say this technology could have made a difference in

1:20:15 to 1:20:30( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: this month's california crash. our bill updates the hours of service laws to ensure that train crews and signal workers get sufficient rest to. alert and reduce that feeling and it gives the federal

1:20:30 to 1:20:46( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: railroad administration the tools to better oversee the safety of the rail industry including more inspectors and higher penalties for violations of federal safety laws. in all, the rail safe improvements

1:20:46 to 1:21:03( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: in this bill are long overdue for workers, for the industry, and for federal regulators. in addition to the rail safety legislation, this bill reauthorizes amtrak for the first time since 1997 and

1:21:03 to 1:21:21( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: as with rail safety the senate has passed legislation on this already in this congress by an overwhelming bipartisan vote on the floor last october. now, i coauthored that bill with senator lott and

1:21:21 to 1:21:35( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: it reflects our shared vision for expanding the vision for passenger trains in the united states and we held several hearings, held input from amtrak and freight railroads and since we were blocked from

1:21:35 to 1:21:51( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: going to conference and reconciling the differences with the house amtrak bill, we worked out a bipartisan, bicameral agreement with our house counterparts. this portion of the bill before us today

1:21:51 to 1:22:11( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: substantially changes our federal policy toward passenger rail travel. it provides the funding that amtrak needs to succeed as a real option for travelers. incled in this funding is a new $2 billion grant

1:22:11 to 1:22:25( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: program for states to pursue passenger rail projects. in all, this bill with authorize offer $2.5 billion each year for amtrak but it includes states also for the next five years. i say "includes

1:22:25 to 1:22:40( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: states also" giving statesn opportunity to look to establish their own rail corridors that have so much interest now much the level of funding will allow more passenger trains to serve more travelers,

1:22:40 to 1:22:56( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: will create infrastructure-related jobs here in america and allow amtrak to make long-term growth plans. now, with this investment comes more accountability -- also comes more accountability. our

1:22:56 to 1:23:13( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: bill contains significant reforms. many called for by senators who have not always supported federal funding for amtrak. these reforms will require the railroad to improve its efficiency and management

1:23:13 to 1:23:28( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: by mandating a new financial accounting system requiring states to pay for those amtrak services that they get and considering passenger trains run by freight railroads. our bill also allows private firms

1:23:28 to 1:23:49( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: to submit proposals to build new high-speed lines if there is interest which allows for a full public discussion of this potential. mr. president, both the rail safety and the amtrak portions of this

1:23:49 to 1:24:03( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: bill are needed and long overdue. since we last passed rail safety legislation, more than 9,000 people have been killed and more than 100,000 have been injured in train-related incidents. think about

1:24:03 to 1:24:17( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: that. and here we are, having a lilt battle a-- a little battle about this. we can save lives and make people more comfortable in their travel and make rail service more reliable. since we last

1:24:17 to 1:24:34( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: passed amtrak legislation gas prices, everyone knows, have tripled circumstances highways have gotten more crowded," and we have suffered two of the worst years ever for flight delays. the house took up

1:24:34 to 1:24:51( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: this bill, passed it on a bipartisan vote last -- voice vote last week. and now the senate needs to invoke cloture, pass this bill, and send it to the president for his signature. i ask that all senators,

1:24:51 to 1:25:31( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: let us proceed to this question and help travelers and rail workers, states, and supply companies in this critical industry. i ask, what's the time situation,si please? the presiding officer: with the additional

1:25:31 to 1:25:51( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: time grantd the majority now has seven minutes and ten is seconds and the minority has two minutes. mr. lautenberg: mr. president, our bill -- mr. lautenberg: mr. president, our bill will result

1:25:51 to 1:26:11( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: in a substantially safer railroad industry. in recognition of this, the association of american railroads and many rail labor unions together strongly support our bill. our bill wil expand the resources

1:26:11 to 1:26:29( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: of the f.r.a. which regulates railroad safety. it has provisions which would authorize 200 more inspectors and raise the maximum miles or civil penalties the agency can level for safety law. these

1:26:29 to 1:26:49( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: violations can cost up to $100,000 each. too often it takes a catastrophe to get people around here to focus on severe gaps in our laws. regrettably, earlier this month, america experienced that kind of tragedy. we

1:26:49 to 1:27:14( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: have -- the accident took place in chatsworth, california. only a couple weeks ago, september 12, 2008. the devastation that you see here, the loss of life, the number of injuries is unacceptable.

1:27:14 to 1:27:40( Edit History Discussion )

if we can do anything about it -- we can. i also mention that we also owe it to the residents in communities like graniteville, south carolina. this was january 6, 2005. they had nine fatalities. we