Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) voted in favor of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (HR 2095).  The bill, which increases funding for Amtrak, passed the House unanimously by voice vote. 

Braley is an original co-sponsor of the Amtrak bill and he worked to shepherd the bill through the Transportation Committee, of which he is a member.  Braley was also named as a conferee to the Amtrak bill.    

"I'm happy that the House passed a bill to support Iowa's passenger rail needs," Braley said.  "The Amtrak bill will help make passenger rail service between Dubuque and the Quad Cities to Chicago a reality.  This bill takes the first step to make affordable, efficient passenger rail service available for more Iowans." 

The Amtrak Bill includes language to create a new $1.9 billion ‘State Capital Grant Program,' which would award federal grants to states for the construction of new passenger rail service between US cities.  Proposed passenger rail service between Chicago and the Quad Cities and Chicago and Dubuque would be eligible to apply for funding under this program. 

"I'm also excited that this bill included provisions from my ‘Back on Track Act', which will help railroads repair bridges damaged by this year's floods and tornados.  These bridges connect Iowa businesses to the country, and this legislation will help these railroads quickly rebuild." 

In July, Braley introduced the ‘Back on Track Act', which would make changes to the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (RRIF) to help railroads better construct and rehabilitate railroad infrastructure.   One provision of the Back on Track Act, to lengthen the railroad loan repayment terms from 25-years to 35-years, was included in the final version of the Amtrak bill. 

The bill also includes Braley's provision mandating a Federal Railroad Administration study into the viability of the widespread use of biolubricants in freight and passenger rail as an alternative to petroleum-based lubricants.   The University of Northern Iowa's National Ag-Based Lubricant Center (NABL), the country's leading biolubricant research center, is located in Iowa's First District.