In the News

Joint statement from Reps. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Steny Hoyer (MD-5), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Chris Van Hollen (MD-8), Donna F. Edwards (MD-4), John Sarbanes (MD-3), John Delaney (MD-6), Don Beyer (VA-8), Barbara Comstock (VA-10):

“We are deeply disappointed that the House of Representatives has chosen to cut $50 million from Metro and not fulfill the long-standing federal commitment critical to rider safety improvements.

“Reducing this funding breaks the 10-year federal commitment and jeopardizes the successful local, state and federal partnership.  Millions of Americans – not just from the DC region, but from across the nation – depend on Metro, which is why Congress and the federal government have a responsibility to the operation, oversight, and safety of the system.

“We will work with our House and Senate colleagues to restore this vital funding for Metro safety upgrades as the appropriations process moves forward.”

Background

For the past six years, Congress in a bipartisan fashion has provided $150 million for Metro safety upgrades, as authorized under the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. It is not like traditional transportation funding as the law requires the federal funding to be matched dollar-for-dollar with $50 million each from Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

H.R. 2577, the funding bill for the Department of Transportation under consideration in the House, cuts that amount by $50 million. The regional delegation jointly offered an amendment to restore that funding, but it was ruled out of order during debate on the House floor Wednesday night. 

This partnership is funding critical safety improvements throughout the system identified by Metro itself, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Federal Transit Administration following the tragic 2009 Red Line accident and the recent tragedy on the Yellow Line this past January. The most visible improvement is the purchase of new 7000 series railcars with advanced crash-resilient technology to replace the oldest cars in its fleet.

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Connolly Statement on Amendment Offered to T-HUD Appropriations Bill Wednesday night:

Wednesday, June 03, 2015

Floor statement re: Amendment to H.R. 2577 T-HUD Appropriations Act to restore WMATA funding

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment with my colleagues in the National Capital Region delegation that would restore full funding of the federal commitment for vital rider safety improvements to “America’s Subway,” the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (or Metro). 

Let me remind my colleagues that this is not like the traditional transit or capital funding under the Department of Transportation. The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 authorized a $150 million annual federal commitment for 10 years, and Congress has worked in bipartisan fashion the past six years to fulfill it.

As required by law, the federal funding is matched dollar-for-dollar with $50 million each from Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

I appreciate the efforts of my fellow Virginian, Mr. Rigell, and the Subcommittee Chairman, Mr. Diaz-Balart, to work with us to restore some of the funding at full committee markup, but reducing any of this funding would renege on the federal commitment and jeopardize the successful local-state-federal partnership we’ve created.

It also would open the door for our partners to pull back on their commitments, which would only exacerbate Metro’s challenge in upgrading its aging infrastructure.

This partnership is funding critical safety improvements throughout the system identified by Metro itself, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Federal Transit Administration following the tragic 2009 Red Line accident and the recent tragedy on the Yellow Line this past January. The most visible improvement is the purchase of new railcars with advanced crash-resilient technology to replace the oldest cars in its fleet.

Congress and the federal government have a responsibility in the operation and safety of Metro. Half of all Metro stations are located on federal property, and approximately 40% of rush-hour riders are federal employees -- including many Members of Congress. 

It is critical that we maintain this bipartisan commitment to match local and state funding so that Metro can continue making these safety upgrades.

I want to thank Mr. Hoyer, Ms. Norton, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Delaney, Mr. Beyer, and Ms. Comstock for working with me on this regional priority.