Happening Now
Rail Passengers Association Letter on Re-Nomination of Rokita
August 5, 2020
[Click here for a PDF of the letter to the Senate Committee on Commerce]
August 4, 2020
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The Honorable Roger Wicker Chair Dirksen Senate Office Building 512 U.S. Senate |
The Honorable Maria Cantwell Ranking Member Hart Senate Office Building 420 A U.S. Senate |
Dear Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Cantwell,
The Rail Passengers Association is writing to voice our opposition to the re-nomination of Todd Rokita of Indiana to the Amtrak Board of Directors. Based upon his record, we believe Mr. Rokita is the wrong person to provide guidance to Amtrak in these difficult times and lacks a clearly defined vision of growth for America’s railroad.
During our organization’s research into Mr. Rokita’s tenure as a Member of Congress, we found that he voted against Amtrak in 8 of the 13 Amtrak-specific amendments we tracked. Some of Mr. Rokita’s most questionable anti-Amtrak votes include:
- 2017 – Voted YES on H.Amdt. 287 to H.R. 3354, filed by Rep. Mo Brooks, that would have eliminated funding to Amtrak’s National Network (the amendment failed).
- 2015 – Voted YES on H.Amdt. 72 to H.R. 749, filed by Rep. Tom McClintock, that would have completely ended federal grants for Amtrak (the amendment failed).
- 2011 – Voted YES on H.Amdt. 43 to H.R. 1, filed by Rep. Pete Sessions, would have reduced Amtrak’s capital grant by $446 million (the amendment failed).
Most of the actions taken by Amtrak’s board members happen behind closed doors, with little public explanation of how or why board members voted on issues. Nevertheless, these actions have a big impact on the present and future of the U.S. passenger rail network—establishing new policies, providing corporate management and oversight, and helping decide major issues addressing who the railroad serves and what levels of service they receive.
Amtrak provides an essential service to hundreds of communities across the U.S., both urban and rural. Given his voting record in Congress, putting Mr. Rokita on the Amtrak board would be too great a risk.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Jim Mathews, President & CEO
Rail Passengers Association
"It is an honor to be recognized by the Rail Passengers Association for my efforts to strengthen and expand America’s passenger rail. Golden spikes were once used by railroads to mark the completion of important rail projects, so I am truly grateful to receive the Golden Spike Award as a way to mark the end of a career that I’ve spent fighting to invest in our country’s rail system. As Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, it has been my priority to bolster funding for Amtrak, increase and expand routes, look to the future by supporting high-speed projects, and improve safety, culminating in $66 billion in new funding in the Bipartisan infrastructure Law."
Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
March 30, 2022, on receiving the Association's Golden Spike Award for his years of dedication and commitment to passenger rail.
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