Nadler amendment passes with voice vote

Adds $3 billion for transit

Steve Hawley, Jan 28, 09.

The Nadler amendment to the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act passed the House with a voice vote today, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The amendment adds $3 billion for transit, half of which will go toward new starts and half of which will go to capital improvements. It received bipartisan support, according to the blog Greater Greater Washington. Gene Green, representing northern and eastern Houston, spoke in support of the Nadler amendment and mentioned the Houston light rail system.

The House also rejected on voice vote an amendment proposed by Jeff Flake of Arizona that would have eliminated all $800 million allocated to Amtrak. Flake argued that Amtrak has never turned a profit and that the federal government should stop subsidizing it. Rep. Corrine Brown of Florida spoke against the Flake amendment, saying, “There is no form of transportation that pays for itself. None whatsoever. Whether we’re talking about rail, airlines, cars, none of that. We subsidize all of that.” Flake later called for a recorded vote, and the amendment was defeated 320-116.

The House bill now contains $30 billion for highways and $12 billion for transit, plus $1.1 billion for Amtrak and inter-city rail.