June 26, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4037 and have a long record of opposition to Every week since we have come on serve this shabby treatment from this our Nation’s premier social insurance the floor, that is up over $6 billion from President. program. Let me put this on the last week. They keep going into the It is time for the administration to record. trust fund to give money away to CEOs step up to the plate and make a deci- Beginning with the original Social like Kenneth Lay, who, believe me, sion about based on what is Security Act when the ranking minor- owes us money. The Social Security re- good for the traveling public and not ity Republican member of the Com- cipients of this country and the tax- what is best for the right wing of the mittee on Ways and Means was Rep- payers owe him nothing. Republican Party and the bean resentative Allen Treadway, a Repub- Democrats believe Social Security is counters at OMB. lican from Massachusetts, he led the a compact of trust between genera- I represent City, Florida, attack here in Congress, in the House, tions. We will continue to fight against where we recently experienced a trag- offering a motion to delete the old age the Republican raid to ensure that So- edy when an Amtrak auto de- and unemployment insurance programs cial Security’s existence will continue railed, killing four and injuring hun- and stating that he would vote, and I for generations to come. Democrats dreds of others. Soon after that, we ex- quote, ‘‘most strenuously in opposition have always believed in Social Secu- perienced another derailment in to the bill at each and every oppor- rity, and we always will. Gainesville that injured many more. tunity.’’ f Florida depends on tourists for its At that time, 95 of 103 Republicans economy, and we need people to be able voted along with Representative CONGRESS HAS AN OBLIGATION to get to this State safe so they can Treadway to gut the original act. That TO THE TRAVELING PUBLIC TO enjoy it. Ever since September 11, more was 92.2 percent of the Republicans. SUPPORT AMTRAK and more people are turning from the But they failed because there were The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a airlines to Amtrak, and they deserve more Democrats that believed that we previous order of the House, the gentle- safe and dependable service. should lift those in poverty who are woman from Florida (Ms. BROWN) is Some people think that the solution seniors to a level at least of subsist- recognized for 5 minutes. to the problem is to privatize the sys- ence and to dignity in their retirement Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, tem. If we privatize, we will see the years. first of all, let me just say that I am same thing we saw when we deregu- Now, Republican opposition in the here to discuss Amtrak, but I not only lated the airline industries. Only the Senate was also pronounced, with a support Amtrak, I have loved the lucrative routes will be maintained, majority of Senate Republicans voting ever since I was a little girl. I re- and routes to rural locations, I say to with Senator Hastings to delete the re- member when I was a little girl, the Members who represent rural areas, tirement program from the Social Se- used to come right by will be too expensive and too few. In curity Act. As we all know, the Act my house. The question that we have other words, they will cut these areas went on to pass both Chambers and was in this country is whether or not we out if we privatize it. signed into law by Democratic Presi- support passenger rail. Mr. Speaker, I was in New York dent Franklin Roosevelt on August 14, Let me just say before I get started shortly after September 11 when the 1935. that there is no form of transportation plane leaving JFK crashed into the But Republican opposition to Social in this country or anywhere that sup- Bronx. I, along with many of my col- Security was not limited to the old age ports itself. Whether we are talking leagues in both the House and Senate, and unemployment provisions. In 1956, about the airline industry, whether we took Amtrak back to Washington. 38 of 44 Senate Republicans voted are talking about trucks, roads, buses, This isn’t about fiscal policy, this is about against an amendment to restore the none of them support themselves. So providing a safe and reliable public transpor- disability insurance program to the the question is whether or not we sup- tation system that the citizens of this Nation bill. That was 861⁄2 percent of the Re- port passenger rail service, or whether need and deserve. Lets stop this crisis now, publicans in the Senate not wishing to we are going to let it fall apart and before it is too late. include the disability insurance provi- leave this country’s travelers and busi- Mr. Speaker, we have an obligation sions, which are the lifeline for mil- ness people with absolutely no alter- to the traveling public to support Am- lions and millions of people who have native form of public transportation. trak. been stricken in their families with ill- Without the $270 million Amtrak Ms. MCCARTHY of . Mr. Speaker, I ness or with injury. needs to keep operating, we will soon rise in strong support of providing Amtrak a In 1965, when Medicare Part A and B see people that rely on Amtrak to get loan guarantee or supplemental funding in were created, when President Lyndon to their work each day waiting for a order to keep our national rail system from Johnson was President and led this train that is not coming. shutting down. Since 9/11, many travelers fight for health care for our seniors, 128 This Congress absolutely must pro- have opted to use rail transportation as an al- of 165 House Republicans, or 77.6 per- vide funds to avert a shutdown of Am- ternative to flying. A shutdown would cause cent, three-quarters of them, voted to trak. We continue to subsidize high- serious disruptions for commuters and trav- recommit the bill and replace it with, ways and aviation, but when it comes elers nationally, and to local economies across guess what, a voluntary system. Have to our passenger rail service we refuse America. we heard this before? to provide the money Amtrak needs to Amtrak is critical to my constituents in Kan- Most recently, Republicans have bro- survive. This issue is much bigger than sas City and to the people of Missouri. Mis- ken their repeated promises, voting just transportation; this is about safe- souri has four Amtrak trains: two Missouri seven times on the issue to ensure ty and national security. Not only that travel between Kansas City and St. that, as they say, every penny of Social should we be giving Amtrak the money Louis and the two trains that Security will be locked away in a it needs to continue to provide serv- travel between Kansas City, St. Louis, and lockbox. Instead, they have drained the ices, we should be providing security . These trains are integral to tourism budget, even as we stand here tonight, dollars, money to upgrade their tracks and commerce in our state. with tax breaks for the super rich and and improve safety and security meas- This year, the Kansas City station has had are plundering the trust funds of Social ures in the entire rail system. approximately 60,000 passengers, the St. Security over the next 10 years by Once again, we see the Bush adminis- Louis station has had over 74,000, the Jeffer- nearly $2 trillion. tration’s too-little, too-late policy. I son City station has had more than 41,000, So every week I am coming down am surprised they have not suggested a Hermann’s station has had over 11,000, and here to the floor to take a look at the tax cut to solve this problem. Instead, the Warrensburg station has had 11,000 plus grade on the Social Security trust they are trying to take money from passengers. fund. I call it the debt clock. As of the hard-working Amtrak employees Amtrak has proven to be an extremely con- today, Republicans have raided now who work day and night to provide top- venient method of transportation for the busi- $223,945,205,479 from the Social Security quality service to their passengers. ness traveler. Missouri state officials commute trust fund, which averages now about These folks are trying to make a living on the train to work at the State Capitol in Jef- $796 per American. for their families, and they do not de- ferson City. Many Missouri business travelers

VerDate 11-MAY-2000 04:14 Jun 27, 2002 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K26JN7.142 pfrm12 PsN: H26PT1 H4038 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 26, 2002 commute between Kansas City to St. Louis to from my state rode Amtrak last year—and 80 acy, proposing $500 million for Amtrak for FY avoid airport and highway congestion. This rail thousand daily commuters ride New Jersey 2003 when it needs $1.2 billion. This is unac- system has played a significant role in helping Transit, that would be effectively shut down if ceptable and would only continue to allow Am- reduce congestion at Lambert International the signaling and operators that Amtrak pro- trak to wither on the vine. Airport in St. Louis by providing routes from vides are closed. President Bush’s recent proposal that Am- Kansas City to St. Louis and throughout the The passenger rail system in my state, my trak make a quick profit and be spun off to pri- Midwest. region, and our country provides hubs of job vate corporations is a nonstarter. First, no The stop in Warrensburg Amtrak station creation, commercial development, and com- passenger rail service in the world—including provides an affordable transportation route for merce, especially in revitalized urban centers every subway system—operates without sub- Central Missouri State University students and smaller communities between major cities sidies. Second, Amtrak was created because from across the state. This station also pro- without an airport or other means of mass dis- the private railroads asked that they no longer vides 10,000 military personnel and civilians tance travel. The loss of commerce for even a be required to operate passenger rail service access to Whiteman Air Force Base which single day closing would be enormous—and in because it was unprofitable. If passenger rail maintains the Air Force’s premier weapon sys- some cases devastating. service was not profitable for railroads to run tem, the B–2 bomber. So I say again: we’re not talking about three decades ago, I do not see how it could Individuals traveling on the Missouri routes tracks and trains, we’re talking families and be profitable now. are able to visit many sites including the: re- towns and cities and livelihoods. Amtrak is not The American people deserve an alternative stored historic Kansas City Union Station, Tru- some disembodied entity—it’s an integral part to driving and flying. If the President refuses to man Presidential Museum in Independence, of the communities it serves. We need imme- lead. Congress must step in and keep the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, Mis- diate action, and we need it now, but we also trains running on time. souri State Capitol and Governor’s Mansion in need this Administration to start getting seri- Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, Jefferson City, Hermann’s wineries and fa- ous about a real, long-term solution that en- Amtrak is an institution that we must preserve. mous Octoberfest activities, Lewis and Clark sures the smooth continuation of passenger Now is not the time to turn our backs, and Territory, and the restored St. Louis train sta- rail service—not just a rehash of the Amtrak deny the emergency aid that we need to keep tion by the landmark Arch. Reform Council’s proposal to largely privatize this service running. Amtrak officially began Amtrak has been forced to run a national the system and separate infrastructure owner- service on May 1, 1971, when no. 235 system with insufficient financial support since ship from operations, which has been tried departed New York’s Penn Station at 12:05 its creation. Approving $200 million in emer- and failed elsewhere. Besides, the nation’s a.m. bound for Philadelphia. This very same route is traversed by Amtrak trains several gency funding is essential and timely. The fed- railroads are adamantly opposed to giving times daily, transporting thousands of pas- eral government has provided subsidies for all other entities the access rights to their tracks modes of transportation including our nation’s sengers who depend on this service. that Amtrak currently has. So to the Adminis- Mr. Speaker, as you well know, Amtrak has airports, highways, riverways, and buses. No tration I would say: get serious and start deal- announced the imminent shut-down of oper- comparable national passenger rail system in ing with reality. ations to begin in one week. Amtrak is our na- the world has operated without subsidies, and We need this Administration to be involved tional passenger rail service. I have joined the no system has ever succeeded without sub- not just when we are at a crisis point—not just effort by signing a letter to the Appropriators stantial public capital investment. I urge my days before the system could go under—we asking for $200 million in supplemental appro- colleagues to support emergency funding for need long-term thinking, long-term planning, priations in order to keep Amtrak in business. Amtrak in order to maintain and reform Amer- and a real commitment to make sure America Were Amtrak to shut down, the consequences ica’s national passenger rail system. has the passenger rail service it deserves. would be far more widespread than merely af- Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, we’re not Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, many of my col- fecting long-range service. This shut down talking about tracks, or trains, or rails, or sta- leagues have spoken about the importance of would be disastrous to commuters, as such tions—we’re talking about people—their jobs, Amtrak to the , or to the commuter lines as Virginia Railway Express their families, their lives. And I am sick of peo- small towns throughout the country that do not and MARC in the Washington DC area, and ple playing politics with it. In a modern nation, have access to air travel. However, Amtrak is Shoreline East in Connecticut, all operate on in the greatest nation on Earth, passenger rail equally important to Michigan and the Mid- Amtrak tracks and use Amtrak crews. service is not a luxury, it’s a necessity for the west, where it provides competition to the air- Each day, 60,000 passengers travel on Am- millions of people who use it to get to work, lines and links major cities, alleviating conges- trak, and 24,000 travel between New York and to get to clients, to create new business, to tion on roads and in airports. Washington, DC alone. The entire Northeast meet friends, to see family, to take a vacation, Americans have chosen to ride Amtrak at Corridor would be crippled by a shutdown of to enjoy the Holidays. increasing rates. Between 1996 and 2001, Amtrak service. America needs reliable, affordable, efficient systemwide ridership grew from 19.7 million to Mr. Speaker, when service first began in rail service—for all these reasons. All over the 25.3 million. Last year, Amtrak served over 1971, Amtrak had merely 25 employees. world, passenger rail service is a comfortable, 500,000 people in Michigan, many of whom Today, Amtrak provides employment for over popular, reliable mode of transportation, espe- are my constituents. It is important that Con- 24,000 workers. Amtrak’s future is an issue cially between cities that are two to four hours gress let President Bush know that Amtrak that must be resolved. Mr. Speaker, we in apart—like Paris and London, Tokyo and must be kept running. Congress must be adamant about guaran- Osaka, and New York and Washington. The Passenger rail service should not be teeing to Amtrak that we will not let it fall. same should be true of travel between cities stopped in its tracks, especially as riders begin Congress must also resolve to adopting a like Orlando and Miami, Atlanta and Charlotte, to receive the benefits of Amtrak’s roll out of long-term strategy of reform for our nation’s Chicago and St. Louis, and Los Angeles and high-speed service. Amtrak owns 96 miles of passenger rail system. Congress must be sure San Diego. track in Michigan in the Detroit-Chicago high- that Amtrak can continue maintaining, and up- At a time when roads are increasingly speed corridor. Amtrak, the Federal Railroad grading its fleet of trains. A quick fix cannot be clogged, when air travel is strained, wisely in- Administration, the State of Michigan and pri- misconstrued as being a long-term answer. vesting in rail service is the right thing to do, vate industry have invested in upgrading this Mr. Speaker, I do not stand alone when I and the smart thing to do. But this Administra- corridor. The ultimate goal of this high-speed say America needs Amtrak. Yes, we need a tion has been asleep at the switch—and if project is to reduce the total time between De- strong and reliable passenger rail system. Amtrak fails, if we lose passenger rail service, troit and Chicago from the current 6 hours to With improvement, Amtrak would be much it will be because this Administration didn’t 3 and one-half hours. In January 2002, 90 cheaper to maintain than constructing new air- think it was important enough—tell that to the mile-per-hour service began on a segment of ports and highways. Rail stations, are far more parents who won’t be able to get to work to the Amtrak owned right-of-way. Additional environmentally friendly than airports, and put- support their families; tell that to the busi- speed increases over the entire length of the ting more cars on our highways. Terminating nesses that won’t be able to get to their cli- Amtrak-owned line are planned for later this Amtrak will mean a serious loss to metropoli- ents; tell that to the grandchild who won’t be year. This is the first significant increase in tan areas as New York and Chicago. The loss able to get to her grandmother’s house; and passenger rail speed above 80 miles per hour of train service will lead to increased auto- tell that to the union worker who loses his or outside the Northeast in 20 years. mobile traffic into downtown areas from the her benefits. Amtrak has been woefully underfunded suburbs. Passenger rail service is very impor- As of last year, Amtrak employed 1,736 since it was created in 1971. The Bush Ad- tant to maintaining and improving pollution lev- people in my state. Almost 4 million people ministration has continued this unfortunate leg- els. Without commuter rail service, the number

VerDate 11-MAY-2000 04:14 Jun 27, 2002 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A26JN7.061 pfrm12 PsN: H26PT1 June 26, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4039 of cars that already pack New York City’s voting on this week and with some par- iors. Vote for me and I will get you a crowded streets would greatly increase. ticular interest in the high cost and prescription drug benefit. There was Pollution and transportation are not issues skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs not anybody running for any office at limited to the northeastern corridor. These are in this country. the Federal level that did not say that. national issues, as well. Amtrak is also a na- Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- Well, those seniors, people in our own tional issue. People all over the country ride woman from Illinois (Ms. families, are still waiting in line for on the passenger rail service Amtrak provides. SCHAKOWSKY), who is a valuable mem- that prescription drug benefit. We are Mr. Speaker, Amtrak is worth maintaining. ber to our caucus and has been actively almost through an entire session of We must also recognize that it is in involved in the area of prescription Congress, and there still is not a pre- Congress’s power to step in and fix this prob- drugs. scription drug benefit. They have been lem. Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I bumped out of their place in line by the Mr. Speaker, this issue needs our attention thank the gentlewoman from Florida airlines who we bailed out a very short and it needs it now. Congress must pass an for yielding to me, who has been such time after September 11. They have aid package that gives Amtrak the tools not a great leader on an issue that is so im- been displaced from their place in line only to survive, but also to excel. portant to the 39 million people who by a very few rich dead people when we f are on Medicare. Those are the elderly excused them from the estate tax. And and persons with disabilities. now as the front of the line appears REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- A lot of times we come to the floor closer and closer, maybe they are get- VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF and we talk about people that are in ting there, what they are offered up by H.R. 5010, DEPARTMENT OF DE- our districts or people that we have the Republicans is a sham and not a FENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, heard about or issues that affect some plan, a bill that was written by the 2003 segment of our society, but not so drug companies and for the drug com- Mrs. MYRICK, from the Committee often do we come to the floor and talk panies that does nothing to control the on Rules, submitted a privileged report about a problem that affects so many high cost of prescription drugs, pro- (Rept. No. 107–536) on the resolution (H. people that also directly impacts our vides no guaranteed benefit, there is no Res. 461) providing for consideration of own families. predictable premium or copayment, no the bill (H.R. 5010) making appropria- The issue of the high cost of prescrip- guarantee even that any insurance tions for the Department of Defense for tion drugs is hard to escape from, re- company will even offer them the the fiscal year ending September 30, gardless of the income or the position chance to purchase a plan. 2003, and for other purposes, which was of one’s family. I found, much to my A former member, Bill Gradison, who referred to the House Calendar and or- surprise, sometime ago that my family was president of the Health Insurance dered to be printed. was not immune from this particular Association of America from 1993 to crisis. 1998, criticized the GOP private market f One day I got an e-mail from a cousin approach to prescription drug coverage REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- of mine that said, ‘‘The reason I am saying, ‘‘I am very skeptical that ‘drug VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF writing you today, I saw you on C– only’ private plans would develop.’’ H.R. 5011, MILITARY CONSTRUC- SPAN giving a speech on prescription So even those people who are associ- TION APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2003 drugs.’’ He said, ‘‘I thought you would ated with the insurance industry think that there is not going to be such a Mrs. MYRICK, from the Committee be interested in my mom’s story.’’ This plan available. That is what the Repub- on Rules, submitted a privileged report is also my cousin, his mother. ‘‘The last couple of years of my dad’s licans have offered up. (Rept. No. 107–537) on the resolution (H. The Democrats on the other hand, we Res. 462) providing for consideration of life, he was relying heavily on all sorts of heart medication and other prescrip- have a plan that does provide a guaran- the bill (H.R. 5011) making appropria- teed benefit, that is absolutely going to tions for military construction, family tion drugs to keep him going and main- tain a quality of life.’’ lower the cost of prescription drugs, housing, and base realignment and clo- will lower the cost by enabling the Sec- sure for the Department of Defense for b 1930 retary of Health and Human Services the fiscal year ending September 30, Well, Mom kept on putting those to negotiate a lower price for senior 2003, and for other purposes, which was drugs on their credit cards. How else citizens, that says that all the bene- referred to the House Calendar and or- were they going to pay for them? With ficiaries of Medicare, our group just dered to be printed. Social Security? I do not think so. like an HMO or the Veterans Adminis- f Well, anyway Mom did everything tration, and they will negotiate a lower she could to make sure Dad got his REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- price for senior citizens, and lower the meds. When Dad passed away in Janu- VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF amount of out-of-pocket costs. ary 1998, Mom was left with a moun- But women, women are the ones who MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE tain of credit card debt. The Tuesday are most affected, that are most hurt RULES after his funeral, she had to declare by the high cost of prescription drugs Mrs. MYRICK, from the Committee bankruptcy. It just does not seem fair. just like my cousin was who had to de- on Rules, submitted a privileged report But if you ask Mom, she would do it all clare bankruptcy. Out-of-pocket spend- (Rept. No. 107–538) on the resolution (H. over again to have a few more days ing on prescription drugs by seniors is Res. 463) providing for consideration of with Dad. the single largest out-of-pocket health motions to suspend the rules, which As we the baby boomers get older and care component after premium pay- was referred to the House Calendar and the cost of prescription drugs is sky- ments. ordered to be printed. rocketing, something needs to be done Older women spend more out of pock- f to curb the drug companies. It cannot et on prescription drugs on average all be for recouping R and D. Somebody than do older men regardless of the THE SKYROCKETING COST OF PRE- is gouging somebody. type of supplemental insurance cov- SCRIPTION DRUGS IN AMERICA This e-mail was sent to me almost erage they have. Women on Medicare The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under exactly 2 years ago today. And at that without supplemental benefits spend the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- time there was not a candidate running almost 40 percent more on prescription uary 3, 2001, the gentlewoman from for office, particularly for Federal of- drugs than men, and men are spending Florida (Mrs. THURMAN) is recognized fice, who was not promising that some- too much. Older women are less likely for 60 minutes as the designee of the thing was going to be done about that than men to have employer-sponsored minority leader. high cost of prescription drugs. Oh, prescription drug coverage. Women Mrs. THURMAN. Mr. Speaker, to- yes, elect me and I will go to the White without drug coverage spend more out night we have a group of women here House or I will go to the Congress and of pocket on drugs than men. On aver- who are very concerned about the pre- I will pass a prescription drug benefit age older women fill more prescrip- scription drug benefit that we may be for senior citizens. Do not worry, sen- tions than men each year regardless of

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