2019: Schweikert Voted Against An Omnibus Spending Proposal Preventing Another Government Shutdown And Providing $1.9 Billion For Amtrak. In February 2019, Schweikert voted against the FY 2019 consolidated appropriations bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, "This Conference Summary describes the agreement on H J Res 31, Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2019, which provides detailed, full-year funding for all seven remaining FY 2019 spending bills ---thereby completing the FY 2019 appropriations process. The centerpiece, Homeland Security, provides $1.375 billion for new and replacement barriers along the U.S. border with Mexico, including 55 miles of new fencing, along with an increase of $1.5 billion in other border security funding --- such as for new technology at ports of entry and additional Customs officers. Outside of the Homeland bill, it includes another $1.6 billion for border security, as well as a 1.9% pay increase for federal civilian employees." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 300 to 128. The bill was later signed into law by the president. [House Vote 87, 2/14/19; Congressional Quarterly, 2/14/19; Congressional Actions, H. J. Res. 31]
2017: Schweikert Voted For The FY 2018 Republican Study Committee Budget Resolution Which In Part Called For Eliminating Amtrak Operating Grants and Capital Grants. In October 2017, Schweikert voted for a budget resolution that would in part, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide for $2.9 trillion in new budget authority in fiscal 2018. It would balance the budget by fiscal 2023 by reducing spending by $10.1 trillion over 10 years. It would cap total discretionary spending at $1.06 trillion for fiscal 2018 and would assume no separate Overseas Contingency Operations funding for fiscal 2018 or subsequent years and would incorporate funding related to war or terror into the base defense account. It would assume repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul and would convert Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program into a single block grant program. It would require that off budget programs, such as Social Security, the U.S. Postal Service, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, be included in the budget." The underlying legislation was an FY 2018 House GOP budget resolution. The House rejected the RSC budget by a vote of 139 to 281. [House Vote 555, 10/5/17; Congressional Quarterly, 10/5/17; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 455; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 71]
2017: Schweikert Voted To Eliminate $1.1 Billion In Amtrak Grants. In September 2017, Schweikert voted for an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "eliminate[d] $1.1 billion in funding for grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (operating as Amtrak)." The underlying legislation was a legislative vehicle for an FY 2018 Omnibus appropriations bill. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 128 to 293. [House Vote 449, 9/6/17; Congressional Quarterly, 9/6/17; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 287; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3354]
2015: Schweikert Voted To Eliminate Funding For Amtrak Capital Grants. In June 2015, Schweikert voted for an amendment that would eliminate funding for Amtrak capital grants. According to Congressional Quarterly, the amendment would have "eliminate[d] funding for Amtrak capital grants." The underlying bill was H.R. 2577, a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act for 2016. The vote was on the amendment and the House rejected it 139 to 286. [House Vote 304, 6/4/15; Congressional Quarterly, 6/4/15; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 377; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2577]
May 2015: An Amtrak Train Derailed Outside Of Philadelphia, Killing 8 And Injuring 200. According to the New York Times, "Federal regulators told Congress on Tuesday that they were still working to understand why an Amtrak train was traveling at double the designated speed when it derailed in Philadelphia last month, killing eight people and injuring about 200. [...] The train, en route from Washington to New York on May 12, was traveling at 106 miles per hour as it entered a curve where the speed limit was 50 m.p.h." [New York Times, 6/2/15]
More Than 31 Million People Used Amtrak During Fiscal Year 2014. According to Amtrak's National Fact Sheet, "During FY 2014 (October 2013 - September 2014), Amtrak welcomed aboard nearly 31 million passengers, the largest annual total in its history. On an average day, more than 84,700 passengers ride more than 300 Amtrak trains." [Amtrak, Accessed 10/22/15]
In Fiscal Year 2014, Amtrak Covered 93 Percent Of Operating Costs Through Ticket Sales And Other Revenue. According to Amtrak's National Fact Sheet, "In FY 2014, Amtrak covered 93 percent of operating costs with ticket sales and other revenue." [Amtrak, Accessed 10/22/15]
Rep. Brooks (R-AL): The Amendment Would Make Amtrak Operate In The Black And Run More Efficiently, While Saving The U.S. Money. In a floor speech, Rep. Brooks said, "It is in this setting that I beseech this House of Representatives to be financially responsible by supporting my amendment that eliminates Federal Government operating subsidies of Amtrak, thus forcing Amtrak to operate in the black. How bad is the Amtrak subsidy problem? The Congressional Research Service reports that, from 1971 to 2015, Federal Amtrak subsidies totaled $78 billion in constant 2015 dollars. In fiscal year 2014, Amtrak had a net loss of $1.1 billion. Who paid for that loss? America's children and grandchildren, that is who. How so? It is because America does not have the money and had to borrow every penny of that $1.1 billion, thus burdening Americans for generations to come. Mr. Chairman, a business that relies on subsidies and tax dollars to cover losses has little incentive to operate efficiently or effectively or, for that matter, as safely as it should." [Congressional Record, 6/3/15]
Rep. Price (D-NC): The Amendment Would "End Intercity Passenger Rail" For The U.S. In a floor speech, Rep. Price said, "Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment which, purely and simply, would end intercity passenger rail for our Nation. I remind colleagues, there is not a single mode of transportation in this country that is not subsidized, contrary to what we have just heard." [Congressional Record, 6/3/15]
Rep. Brown (D-FL): The Amendment Would Eliminate 2,000 Jobs And Jeopardize The Economies Of Community Across America. In a floor speech, Rep. Brown said, "The funding cuts proposed in this amendment would simply force Amtrak to shut down, strand millions of rail passengers, disrupt commuter operations, add to our already congested roads and airports, eliminate over 20,000 jobs nationwide, and jeopardize local economies and businesses that depend on Amtrak's service." [Congressional Record, 6/3/15]
2015: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment Eliminating Amtrak Funding Grants. In June 2015, Schweikert voted for an amendment eliminating funding for Amtrak operating grants. According to Congressional Quarterly, the amendment would have, "eliminate[d]funding for Amtrak operating grants." The underlying measure was the FY 2016 Transportation-HUD appropriations bill. The vote was on the amendment. The House rejected the amendment 143 to 283. No further action was taken. [House Vote 303, 6/4/15; Congressional Quarterly, 6/4/15; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 375; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2577]
May 2015: An Amtrak Train Derailed Outside Of Philadelphia, Killing 8 And Injuring 200. According to the New York Times, "Federal regulators told Congress on Tuesday that they were still working to understand why an Amtrak train was traveling at double the designated speed when it derailed in Philadelphia last month, killing eight people and injuring about 200. [...] The train, en route from Washington to New York on May 12, was traveling at 106 miles per hour as it entered a curve where the speed limit was 50 m.p.h." [New York Times, 6/2/15]
More Than 31 Million People Used Amtrak During Fiscal Year 2014. According to Amtrak's National Fact Sheet, "During FY 2014 (October 2013 - September 2014), Amtrak welcomed aboard nearly 31 million passengers, the largest annual total in its history. On an average day, more than 84,700 passengers ride more than 300 Amtrak trains." [Amtrak, Viewed 10/22/15]
In Fiscal Year 2014, Amtrak Covered 93 Percent Of Operating Costs Through Ticket Sales And Other Revenue. According to Amtrak's National Fact Sheet, "In FY 2014, Amtrak covered 93 percent of operating costs with ticket sales and other revenue." [Amtrak, Viewed 10/22/15]
2015: Schweikert Voted Against The FY 2016 Budget Resolution Which Recommended Terminating The TIGER Program And Eliminating Amtrak Operating Subsidies. In March 2015, Schweikert voted against the FY 2016 budget resolution which suggested eliminating the TIGER program and Amtrak operating subsidies. According to Congressional Quarterly, the resolution "recommends terminating the TIGER competitive transportation grant program created by the 2009 stimulus law, eliminating Amtrak operating subsidies, reducing Transportation Security Administration funding and prioritizing funding for rail safety. On the mandatory side, it also suggests that airline subsidies under the Essential Air Service program be phased out." The vote was on the budget resolution. The House passed the resolution 228 to 199. The budget resolution died in the Senate, but a similar concurrent resolution did pass both Houses. [House Vote 142, 3/25/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/23/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 27]
2015: Schweikert Voted Against A FY 2016 Budget Resolution Which Recommended Terminating The TIGER Program And Eliminating Amtrak Operating Subsidies. In March 2015, Schweikert voted against a FY 2016 Budget Resolution which suggested eliminating the TIGER program and Amtrak operating subsidies. According to Congressional Quarterly, the resolution "recommends terminating the TIGER competitive transportation grant program created by the 2009 stimulus law, eliminating Amtrak operating subsidies, reducing Transportation Security Administration funding and prioritizing funding for rail safety. On the mandatory side, it also suggests that airline subsidies under the Essential Air Service program be phased out." The vote was on the adopting the substitute amendment. The House passed the amendment 219 to 208 and later passed the budget resolution. The budget resolution died in the Senate, but a similar concurrent resolution did pass both Houses. [House Vote 141, 3/25/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/23/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 86; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 27]
2015: Schweikert Voted For A FY 2016 Budget Resolution Which Recommended Terminating The TIGER Program And Eliminating Amtrak Operating Subsidies. In March 2015, Schweikert voted for a FY 2016 Budget Resolution which suggested eliminating the TIGER program and Amtrak operating subsidies. According to Congressional Quarterly, the resolution "recommends terminating the TIGER competitive transportation grant program created by the 2009 stimulus law, eliminating Amtrak operating subsidies, reducing Transportation Security Administration funding and prioritizing funding for rail safety. On the mandatory side, it also suggests that airline subsidies under the Essential Air Service program be phased out." The vote was on the adopting the substitute amendment. The House rejected the amendment 105 to 319. The House later adopted a substitute amendment identical to this except for a change in defense spending and then later passed the budget resolution. The budget resolution died in the Senate, but a similar concurrent resolution did pass both Houses. [House Vote 140, 3/25/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/23/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/30/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 85; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 27]
2015: Schweikert Voted To Eliminate Amtrak Operating And Capital Grants As Part Of The FY 2016 Republican Study Committee Budget Resolution. In March 2015, Schweikert voted for eliminating Amtrak operating and capital grants According to the Republican Study Committee, the budget proposes to "Eliminate Amtrak Operating Grants and Capital Grants[.] The federal government has subsidized the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (better known as Amtrak) since it was created by Congress in 1970. The railroad service is a notoriously poor fiscal manager, losing $72 million on food and beverage service alone in 2012. But Amtrak has no incentive to improve its performance if it is able to count on the taxpayers for a bailout each year. The federal government should not force the taxpayers to subsidize Amtrak, which should be privatized. Eliminating Amtrak Operating grants beginning in FY 2016 would save $250 million per year, while eliminating Amtrak Capital grants beginning in FY 2016 would save $1.1 billion per year." The underlying budget resolution would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide[d] for $2.804 trillion in new budget authority in fiscal 2016, not including off-budget accounts. The substitute would call for reducing spending by $7.1 trillion over 10 years compared to the Congressional Budget Office baseline." The vote was on the substitute amendment to a Budget Resolution. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 132 to 294. [House Vote 138, 3/25/15; Republican Study Committee, FY 2016 Budget; Congressional Quarterly, 3/25/15; Congress.gov, H. Amdt. 83; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 27]
2015: Schweikert Voted Against Reauthorizing Amtrak. In March 2015, Schweikert voted against reauthorizing Amtrak. According to Congressional Quarterly, the bill would have "reauthorize[d] the Amtrak through fiscal 2019, and restructure funding according to Amtrak's major lines of business. It would authorize funds for Amtrak operating expenses in the Northeast corridor at the following levels: $439 million for fiscal 2016, $464 million for fiscal 2017, $480 million for fiscal 2018 and $498 million for fiscal 2019; and for Amtrak operating expenses within the national network at the following levels: $973 million for fiscal 2016, $974 million for fiscal 2017, $985 million for fiscal 2018 and $997 million for fiscal 2019. It also would authorize $300 million per year over four years for capital grants. The bill would require Amtrak to annually develop a detailed five-year capital and operating plan and examine the criteria it should use in determining what long-distance routes to service. It would require the development of a five-year capital investment plan with affected states for Amtrak's northeast corridor while creating a new federal-state partnership to finance corridor improvement projects." The vote was on passage. The House passed the measure by a vote of 316 to 101. The Senate took no substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 112, 3/4/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/4/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 749]
2014: Schweikert Voted To Cut Federal Funding For Amtrak Operations By $34 Million. In June 2014, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the FY 2015 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill that, according to Congressional Quarterly, "would [have] reduce[d] by $34 million the amount provided by the bill for Amtrak operating grants and transfer[red] the savings to the bill's spending reduction account." The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 154 to 248. [House Vote 273, 6/9/14; Congressional Quarterly, 6/9/14; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 783; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4745]
Amendment's Sponsor Argued That Approving It Would "Send A Message To Amtrak Leadership" That Congress Demanded "Real, Honest Reform." According to the Congressional Record, Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), the amendment's sponsor, said, "In offering my last amendment [which would have cut all $340 million in federal funding for Amtrak operating grants], I laid out a number of reasons why Amtrak has failed to be a good steward of taxpayers' money. I understand that many of my colleagues might not want to fully defund this entity, so I am now asking that we join together and send a message to Amtrak leadership, a smaller message, but a strong one nonetheless. I am asking my colleagues to tell Amtrak that we will not continue to reward bad behavior and that, when we ask for reform, we expect real reform to begin and take place--not fuzzy numbers, not misleading reports, not sky-high employee salaries, but real, honest reform. Amtrak has struggled for way too long under the status quo. It is time to send them a message." [Congressional Record, 6/9/14; Congressional Record, 6/9/14]
Amendment Opponent Said That Because The Underlying Bill Fully Covered Amtrak's Expected Operating Losses, The Proposed Cut Could Disrupt Service And Operations Throughout The System. According to the Congressional Record, House Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee chairman Tom Latham (R-IA) said, "The fact of the matter is the bill provides $340 billion in operating grants to Amtrak, which will fully cover their operating losses. If in fact the amendment were put in place, there could very easily be interruptions of service in the Northeast or throughout the system, and it could cause real problems as far as the operations itself, obviously, of Amtrak." [Congressional Record, 6/9/14]
2014: Schweikert Voted To Eliminate Federal Funding For Amtrak Operations And Capital Expenses. In April 2014, Schweikert voted for the Republican Study Committee's proposed budget resolution for fiscal years 2015 to 2024. According to the Republican Study Committee's budget, "Eliminate AMTRAK Operating Grants and Capital Grants. The federal government has subsidized the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (better known as AMTRAK) since it was created by Congress in 1970. The railroad service is notoriously a poor fiscal manager, losing $72 million on food and beverage service alone in 2012. But AMTRAK has no incentive to improve its performance if it knows that it will be able to count on the taxpayers for a bailout each year. The federal government should not force the taxpayers to subsidize AMTRAK, which should be privatized. Eliminating AMTRAK Operating grants beginning in FY2015 could save $340 million per year, while eliminating AMTRAK Capital grants beginning in FY2015 could save $1.05 billion per year." The House considered the RSC budget as a substitute amendment to House Republicans' FY 2015 budget resolution; the amendment was rejected by a vote of 133 to 291. [House Vote 175, 4/10/14; Republican Study Committee, 4/7/14; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 615; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 96]
2014: Schweikert Voted To Shutdown Any Amtrak Route That Costs More Than Twice As Much To Operate As It Earns In Revenue. In June 2014, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the FY 2015 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill that, according to the Congressional Record, stated that "None of the funds made available by this Act shall be used to support any Amtrak route whose costs exceed 2 times its revenues, as based on the National Railroad Passenger Corporation Fiscal Years 2013-2017 Five Year Plan from May 2013." The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 167 to 250. [House Vote 294, 6/10/14; Congressional Record, 6/10/14; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 844; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4745]
Amendment Would Eliminate Seven Routes Across The Country. According to the Congressional Record, House Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee chairman Tom Latham (R-IA) said, "The gentleman's amendment would eliminate seven Amtrak routes and eliminate rail service to dozens of cities and towns of all sizes across America. Just to list, those would be California Zephyr, which goes from Chicago to Emeryville, California, which happens to go through Iowa; Cardinal Hoosier line, which is Chicago to New York; Coast Star Light, from Seattle to Los Angeles; the Crescent, from New York City to New Orleans; Silver Star, from New York City to Miami; Southwest Chief, from Chicago to Los Angeles; and the Sunset Limited, from Los Angeles to New Orleans." [Congressional Record, 6/10/14]
Amendment Would Eliminate Amtrak's California Zephyr Route, Which Starts In Chicago, And Then Passes Through Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah And Nevada On Its Way To The San Francisco Bay Area. [Congressional Record, 6/10/14; Amtrak Website, Viewed 8/12/14]
Amendment Would Eliminate Amtrak's Crescent Route, Which Starts In New York City, And Then Passes Through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama And Mississippi On Its Way To New Orleans. [Congressional Record, 6/10/14; Amtrak Website, Viewed 8/12/14]
The House Had Previously Agreed By Voice Vote To Cut Funding For One Of The Seven: The Sunset Limited, Which Runs From New Orleans To Los Angeles. According to the Congressional Record, the House had earlier agreed by voice vote to an amendment to the same appropriations bill that, according to its sponsor, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), "would eliminate funding for the absolute worst performing line, one line, on the Amtrak system, a line that is known as the Sunset Limited, and it runs from New Orleans to Los Angeles." [Congressional Record, 6/10/14]