Unit 5 Web Post
House committee passes bill that cuts
Amtrak funding after crash
In the
article, after the Amtrak train derailment incident the Republican of the House
Committee voted 30-21 to reduce grants to Amtrak by $252 million that will cut
only there Amtrak Capital Spending. The Democrats attempted to increase funding
for Amtrak from 1 billion to 2.4 billion dollars in an effort for passenger
rail service, but the Republicans argue that funding the Amtrak would result in
an “offset by cuts elsewhere in the budget”. Democrats and some Republicans are
in opposition for funding cuts. Democrat Rep. Peter DeFazio from Oregon and
Republican Mario Diaz-Balart from Florida both say that the Republican should
first know what happen in the Amtrak incident before responding to make an
appropriate respond to the event. As well the White House Press Secretary Josh
Earnest mention if there should be need of investments in infrastructure that
they should do so. The National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Railroad
Administration and FBI are investigating and inspecting the derailment of the train
that they know rolled through a curve. This brought up the focus on U.S fund
and maintaining infrastructures. The committees involved are the U.S House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Railroads, Pipelines, and
Hazardous Material Subcommittee.
This article
involves public policy, because it involves the Republicans course of action
after the Amtrak incident and it involves public services. As said by both
parties there should first wait to receive information before making a
decision. As well I agree with the democrat on attempting to fund the
infrastructure for better service. There are many other infrastructures not
only Amtrak that needs funding in Pennsylvania. Though, I agree with the Republicans
on reducing grants to Amtrak, because if there is a mistake there should be
negative consequences. Though, the Democrats are trying to increase funding to
have the problem fixed and for citizens to receive services. Again I agree with
the Democrats, because Congress members’ duty is to make the American citizens railroad
services safe and safer after incidents like this one.
A video of on the Amtrak incident
