This account for fiscal year 2018 has already reduced by undreds of millions of dollars how much dollars. Mr. Visclosky how much more are you going to cut . I happen to live in gary, indiana. I dont live in new jersey. I dont live in new york. What i appreciate is that the chairman, the Ranking Member, the members of the subcommittee put together a National Investment bill. This is an investment in our nation. One of the largest metropolitan regions and economic engine. And if we fail to make these types of investments, we are making a fundamental mistake. Particularly given the fact that during the last campaign, we heard a lot about investing in infrastructure and the gentleman is here tonight wanting to further reduce that particular investment. This is an important account to every american citizen. I support the committees position and i am opposed to the gentlemans amendment and i would yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman from florida is recognized. Mr. Diazbalart mr. Chairman, i would now recognize mr. Payne. Mr. Payne mr. Chair. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Payne i rise as the designee of the Ranking Member lowey, and rise to strike the last word. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Payne mr. Speaker the chair did the gentleman from florida yield back . The gentleman from florida may not reserve. He may yield. Mr. Diazbalart i yield, yes, sir. Mr. Payne thank you, mr. Chair. The chair the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Payne mr. Chairman, i rise in opposition to the proposed amendment. To coin it an earmark is unfortunate. The amendment would strike the language passed out of Appropriations Committee that supports transportation projects of national significance. The committee voted to appropriate 900 million to rail programs already authorized by congress in the fast act. For the last eight weeks, millions of commuters in the new york metropolitan area suffered through a summer of hell after amtrak announced emergency track work at penn station. The busiest in north america. Because of the three derailments in the span of a few weeks. This was just an inkling of the turmoil that would be brought if the federal government does not live up to its promise to fund muchneeded repairs on the northeast corridor. I must emphasize, moneys approved by the Appropriations Committee are for programs already authorized by the fast act, which was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. I urge all of my colleagues to vote against the budd amendment nd with that i yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from North Carolina is recognized. Mr. Budd mr. Chairman, this is a lot of money. As i mentioned earlier. The state of good repair account is funding at at 18 times last years promoted level. Let me say that again. 18 times last years level. And the budget request. Ill close with one more quote from governor christie regarding the decision to cancelle the original version of this project cancel the original version of this project. He said, i dont want to hear about the jobs it will create. If i dont have money for the payroll, it will not create the jobs. This is not a difficult decision for me. The federal government doesnt have the money for the payroll either, mr. Chairman. Were 20 trillion in debt. Heritage action, club for growth, freedomworks, National Taxpayers union, citizens against government waste are scoring yes on my amendment. Mr. Chairman, i urge a yes vote. I thank the chairman and i yield back. The chair the gentleman from North Carolina yields back. The gentleman from florida is recognized. Mr. Diazbalart mr. Chairman, i think we know this issue. I strongly oppose the amendment and i would urge a no vote. And with that i would yield back. The chair the gentleman from florida yields back. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from North Carolina. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the noes have it. Mr. Budd mr. Chairman, i ask for a recorded vote. The chair further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from North Carolina will be postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 33 printed in part b of house report 115295. For what purpose does the gentleman from alabama seek recognition . Mr. Brooks mr. Chairman, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 33 printed in part b of house report 115295 offered by mr. Brooks of alabama. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 500, the gentleman from alabama, mr. Brooks, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from alabama. Mr. Brooks mr. Chairman, america suffered four consecutive trilliondollar per year deficits during the obama and bush administrations. The election of a Republican House in 2010 brought progress. The trilliondollar per year 439 cits were cut to below billion in 2013. A 439 billion deficit is still horrible. But it is a whole lot better than 1 trillion deficit. Unfortunately americas solvency has deteriorated since 2015. In fiscal year 2016 americas deficit exploded to 587 billion. 148 billion worse than the previous year. In fiscal year 2017, this fiscal year, the Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects the deficit will again explode to 693 billion, 145 billion worse this year than last year. And that is before the bill comes due for the Hurricane Harvey destruction in louisiana and tick. Congress will soon raise texas. Congress will soon raise americas debt ceiling as a result and within days thereafter, americas debt will blow through the 20 trillion mark. As a result of americas 20 trillion debt, we pay over 250 billion per year in debt service. How much is 250 billion . The roughly five times what we spend on transportation for things like highways, bridges and interstates each year. That debt Service Money is gone, no longer able to provide services to americans. Rather it is spent to make mends for past government excesses and irresponsible spending. Worse yet, the Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects that is americas Debt Service Cost will increase by another 600 billion within a decade to more than 800 billion per year. The question is then asked, where is that money going to come interest . Whats going to be cut . Will it be Social Security . Will it be medicare, medicaid, National Defense . What . The c. B. O. , americas comptroller general, and the Government Accountability office have all warned congress and the president in writing that americas deficits and debt are unsustainable. To be clear, in the accounting field, the word unsustainable is bad. Really bad. It is the equivalent of a bankruptcy warning. It is a warning that americas headed to a debilitating insolvency and bankruptcy if we dont do better. In sum, washingtons financial irresponsibility is a betrayal of the American People, its pushing america into a debilitating bankruptcy and insolvency will thank will destroy the american that will destroy the American Dream for our children and grandchildren. It is in this setting that i beseech the house of representatives to be financially responsible. Please support my amendment that eliminates federal government operating subsidies of amtrak, thus forcing amtrak passengers to pay their actual cost of riding on amtrak trains. Stated differently, what policy justification is there for forcing americans who dont use amtrak to subsidize the travel of americans who do use amtrak . I know of none. How bad is the amtrak subsidy problem . The Congressional ResearchService Reports that from 1971 to 2015, federal amtrak subsidies totaled 78 billion in constant 2015 dollars. In fiscal year 2014, amtrak had a net loss of 1. 1 billion. Who will pay for that loss . Americas children and grandchildren. That is who. Because thats money we dont have, have to borrow to get, and cannot afford to pay back. Instead of allowing amtrak to continue to run up debts and add to our national debt, we should force amtrak to be selfsufficient, we should force amtrak passengers to pay their own travel costs. We must cut amtrak from the government dole. We dont give these kind of subsidies to people who ride in airplanes. We dont give these kind of subsidies in a lot of other means of transportation. Mr. Speaker, i ask for a yes vote. Be financially responsible. Make amtrak pay its own way. Mr. Speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. Does a member seek time in opposition . The gentleman from florida is recognized for five minutes in opposition. Mr. Diazbalart thank you, mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to this amendment. This amendment would shut down, as weve heard, all 15 of amtraks Long Distance routes and all 28 statesupported routes. Let me tell you. The gentleman from alabama is absolutely, and hes very consistent, hes sincere about trying to reduce the federal deficit. And i commend him for that. Heres the problem. This amendment results not in savings, but in increased costs of 423 million. I want to repeat that. This amendment would have the effect of increasing costs by 423 million. It would stop all revenues associated with the National Network immediately, but costs would continue to accrue for years. And in addition, some costs that were paid for from the National Network account would now simply shift to the northeast corridor account. So, for instance, as ets that are shared by both Long Distance and northeast corridor, like stations or tracks, are funded under each account proportionly. These costs that were formerly paid by the National Network would still need to be paid. This bill, again, so again this amendment actually coulds more money. I know that obviously costs more money. I know thats obviously not the intent because i know the gentleman from alabama is absolutely sincere. This is something we have to realize. This bill does not just is not just arbitrary decisions. We held hearings and we carefully scrubbed each account to make sure that the reductions that we made were responsible, and that they were actually going to result in reductions. So again, this is not the right way to do it. This would actually increase costs. It is not prudent to eliminate an entire transportation option. By the way, furthermore. And in this case, as i mentioned before, it would actually cost even more so to do so. So i respectfully would urge a no vote and i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from alabama is recognized. Mr. Brooks mr. Chairman, only in the hall ofs of congress does a 1. 1 billion cut in subsidies for a mode of transportation allegedly result in higher costs to taxpayers. I would submit that there is zero, zero evidence that amtrak passengers cannot absorb higher fares to pair that i own way. Mr. Speaker, were pay their own way. Mr. Speaker, were talking about 1. 1 billion out of a 700 billion deficit for this fiscal year. We have to be responsible. We have to protect the future of our children and our grandchildren. And i urge the adoption of my amendment to do just that. The chair does the gentleman reserve . Mr. Brooks if i have any time left, mr. Chairman, i do reserve. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from florida is recognized. Mr. Diazbalart i would recognize mr. Price for as much time as he would consume. Mr. Price i appreciate the chairman in yielding and join him in opposing this amendment. Amtrak serves more than 500 destinations in 46 states. It is a more and more critical component of our Transportation System in North Carolina. And many, many states like it across the country. It connects small communities that otherwise wouldnt have access to air service or other firstrate transportation. In the past 11 years, am trass has had 10 consecutive amtrak has had 10 consecutive years of ridership. So this is an irresponsible amendment. It would eliminate thousands of jobs for amtrak workers, it would hurt the local economies that benefit from amtrak routes. Eliminating this National Network service would also harm statesupported routes. We in North Carolina and other tates take notice when that is charged. Its an accurate charge. They feed into these Long Distance routes. It costs the government billions of dollars due to the violation of labor agreements. So it would be a very costly amendment. Theres no doubt about it. Support for a Robust National rail system has been reaffirmed by members of both parties and we can reaffirm it here tonight by voting against this amendment. The chair the gentleman from florida is recognized. Mr. Diazbalart i yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from alabama. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. Brook brooks mr. Chairman, i ask for a mr. Brooks mr. Chairman, i ask for a recorded vote. The chair in the opinion of the chair, the noes have it. Mr. Brooks mr. Chairman, i ask for a recorded vote. The chair pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings and the amendment offered by the gentleman from alabama will be postponed. The chair now in order to consider amendment number 36 printed in part b of house report 115295. For what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition . I have an amendment at the desk. The clerk amendment number 36 printed in part b of house report 115295 offered by mr. Soto of florida. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 500, the gentleman from florida, and a member opposed will each control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from florida. Mr. Soto my funding would increase that sun rail a constituent pearning train in my district would need to begin phase three. Phase three would connect the Commuter Rail system to the Orlando International airport nd the tunnels under crux that would create bright line and sun rail which are divided by a few miles and federal funding will be key to connect this intermodal system. Central florida needs to be more mobile and i urge in the future we look as we go forward with phase three and stand ready to help. With that, mr. Chairman, i yield back. And i withdraw my amendment. The chair the amendment is withdrawn. It is now in order to consider amendment number 37 printed in part b of house report 115295. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Carbajal i have an amendment at the desk. The clerk amendment number 37 printed in part b of house report 115295 offered by mr. Casha hall of california. The chair the gentleman from california and a member opposed each will control five minutes. Mr. Carbajal im offering eastern amendment to ensure we are taking the appropriate steps to improve Pipeline Safety to mitigate some of the devastating impacts of oil spills throughout our nation. This is particularly important issue for my constituents on the Central Coast where we have seen the damage of oil spills wreck our communities and local economy. During the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, over 100,000 barrels of crude oil spilled into the Santa Barbara channel. This was the Largest Oil Spill in californias history that significantly harmed Santa Barbaras unique unique ecosystem and wildlife. Recreational interests and commercial fishing. Paired with the 2015 oil spill also in Santa Barbara county where cleanup costs hit 92 million, these incidents show us that we cannot continue to drag our feet. We need to implement Pipeline Safety and mitigation rules that Congress Passed six years ago. In 2011, the house worked in a bipartisan way to pass the Pipeline Safety regulatory certainty and job creation act. This law, which passed the house unanimously, directed the pipeline and Hazardous Material administration to update and strengthen key Pipeline Safety standards. The law called on them to issue a rule requiring automatic shutoff valves on new pipelines and strengthen requirements for the inclusion of Leak Detection technologies on pipelines. My amendment is straightforward. It sets 1 million own budget for the finalization and implementation of section 4 and 8 of the bipartisan 2011 Pipeline Safety law so that our federal guidelines are up to date. Section 4 requires new pipelines to install automatic shutoff alves mr. Diazbalart we are ready to accept his amendment. So if he would just yield back, well accept his amendment and i thank the gentleman for bringing it up. Mr. Carbajal i will yield back if the amendment is in order to be accepted. Thank you so much. The chair the gentleman from california yields back. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from california. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed,