The States for Passenger Rail Coalition is an alliance of State and
Regional Transportation Officials who work together to promote the
development and growth of Intercity Passenger Rail as part of an
integrated national transportation network.
The States for Passenger Rail Coalition is an alliance of State and
Regional Transportation Officials who work together to promote the
development and growth of Intercity Passenger Rail as part of an
integrated national transportation network.
Congressional authorizing committees establish and authorize programs, set funding levels and rules for how federal funds can be spent, and conduct oversight of federal programs and spending. The Appropriations committee determines how much of the authorized funds to spend, and may also conduct oversight hearings on federal spending.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is the authorizing committee with jurisdiction over passenger (and freight) rail issues, including the Federal Railroad Administration. West Virginia Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller is the Committee Chair and Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is the Ranking Member.
Most of the Committee’s rail-related work begins with the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security. New Jersey Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg is Chair and South Dakota Republican John Thune is Ranking Member.
The Senate Appropriations Committee allocates federal funding. Hawaii Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye is Chair and Mississippi Republican Senator Thad Cochran is Vice Chair.
Most of the Committee’s rail-related work originates in the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. Washington State Democratic Senator Patty Murray is Subcommittee Chair and Maine Senator Susan Collins is the Ranking Member.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is the authorizing committee with jurisdiction over passenger (and freight) rail issues, including the Federal Railroad Administration. Florida Republican Representative John Mica is Chair and West Virginia Republican Nick Rahall II is Ranking Member.
Most of the Committee’s rail-related work originates in the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. Pennsylvania Republican Bill Shuster is Chair and Florida Democratic Representative Corrine Brown is the Ranking Member.
The House Appropriations Committee allocates federal funding. Kentucky Republican Harold Rogers is Chair and Washington Democratic Representative Norm Dicks is the Ranking Member.
Most of the Committee’s rail-related work originates in the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. Iowa Republican Tom Latham is Chair and Massachusetts Democratic Representative John Olver is Ranking Member.
The Bicameral High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Caucus was founded in March 2011 to advocate for increase federal support for high-speed and intercity rail service across the country.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
The CBO provides objective, nonpartisan analysis of the economic impact of Administration and Congressional proposed budgets and legislation.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is a Cabinet agency charged with establishing and overseeing the federal transportation laws, regulations, and system and is led by Secretary Ray LaHood. Rail issues fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Railroad Administration, led by Administrator Joseph Szabo.