Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day.

Whereas the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided $8,000,000,000 for intercity passenger rail and high-speed rail corridor development as well as an additional $1,300,000,000 to Amtrak for capital, safety, and security improvements;

Whereas the United States has built on this commitment to expanding the Nation's high-speed and intercity passenger rail network, appropriating $2,500,000,000 for development of high-speed rail corridors and intercity passenger rail service and $1,564,625,000 to Amtrak in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010;

Whereas the Federal Railroad Administration received applications requesting 7 times the funds available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants;

Whereas, in January 2010, the President announced the recipients of $8,000,000,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act awards for the development of high-speed and intercity passenger rail service in 13 corridors spanning 31 States;

Whereas developing this pipeline of national high-speed and intercity passenger rail ready-to-go and future projects will revitalize the domestic manufacturing industry and create additional jobs in the United States;

Whereas ridership on Amtrak grew every year from 2000 through 2008, and is on track in 2010 for its best ridership year ever, further demonstrating the increased demand for intercity passenger rail services;

Whereas Amtrak provided intercity passenger rail travel to over 27,000,000 people in the United States residing in 46 States last year;

Whereas, in highly populated regions, Amtrak trains and infrastructure carry intercity passengers and commuters to and from work in congested metropolitan areas, providing a reliable rail option while reducing congestion on roads and in the skies;

Whereas, for many rural citizens of the United States, Amtrak represents the only major intercity transportation link to the rest of the country;

Whereas passenger rail provides a more fuel-efficient transportation system thereby providing cleaner transportation alternatives and energy security;

Whereas a robust intercity passenger rail system can provide for better mobility for persons of all abilities;

Whereas, when combined with all modes of transportation, passenger railroads emit only 0.2 percent of the travel industry's total greenhouse gases and 1 freight train can move a ton of freight 457 miles on 1 gallon of fuel; and

Whereas Amtrak has designated May 8, 2010, as National Train Day to celebrate the way trains connect people and places: Now, therefore, be it