Costa, Moulton, DelBene, Ossoff lead bicameral, bipartisan push for High-Speed Rail funding

WASHINGTON – A group of 75 lawmakers—including 65 House members led by Representatives Jim Costa, Seth Moulton, and Suzan DelBene, and 10 Senators led by Senator Jon Ossoff—are urging Congressional appropriators to allocate $3.5 billion for high-speed rail corridor development in the FY2023 budget.

Despite the various economic, environmental, and safety benefits offered by high-speed rail, the U.S. has not prioritized a serious investment in high speed rail.

In contrast, peers like the EU, UK, and Japan have invested in high-speed rail systems that support commerce, quality of life, and environmental sustainability. Most recently, China has made massive and rapid investments in its own high-speed rail infrastructure, building the largest national network in the world.

"We have a significant opportunity to invest in next-generation rail infrastructure," said Congressman Costa. "Now is the time to bring our transportation infrastructure into the 21st century. Investing in modern, clean transportation systems like California's high-speed rail will generate more good-paying jobs, improve sustainability, and support economic growth."

"High-speed rail has the potential to transform this country. Just like the rest of the world, Americans should all be able to travel three-times faster than driving without being crammed into an airplane seat. Yet even with gas prices skyrocketing, we're still spending huge amounts of money to put more cars on the road, making traffic worse," said Congressman Moulton. "I hope that we will soon prioritize 21st Century transportation in the United States. China shouldn't be beating us in modernizing how we move."

"It's past time that Americans can travel using the latest rail technology to connect cities, towns, and rural communities in regions like the Southeast with convenient, safe, fast, affordable, and environmentally friendly high-speed rail service," said Senator Ossoff.

"Robust investments in high-speed rail will help strengthen our national transportation system, connect our communities, support our local economy, and help decrease carbon emissions," said Congresswoman DelBene. "We have a tremendous opportunity to fund the build out of high-speed rail infrastructure in the U.S. through the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations process and with it, increase economic opportunity across the country."

Dedicated funding for high speed rail has not been sought in an annual appropriations package since it was last appropriated for Fiscal Year 2010. The letter also requests language that would help focus investment on world-class service and commit 10 percent of funding to planning a pipeline of projects across the country.

In March 2021, Congressman Costa introduced HR 867: High-Speed Rail Corridor Development Act, legislation that would provide $32 billion to fund projects in federally designated high-speed rail corridors. The bill will directly assist in funding to complete California's High-Speed Rail project connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles via the San Joaquin Valley.

The House letter can be found here. The Senate version can be found here.