Senator Coons supports transportation bill, ports provision

Senator Coons joined his colleagues in the Senate in passing a bipartisan two-year transportation reauthorization last week. This bill includes funding for Amtrak and passenger rail programs, freight rail, bus and public transit, as well as bicycling and pedestrian program. In addition, the reauthorization saves or creates 2.9 million jobs and is fully paid for.

The bill also took a big step towards finally fixing the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) by including a “sense of the Senate” resolution stating we must act to address the chronic backlog of harbor maintenance projects at ports across the country. The resolution supports a bill introduced by Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the bipartisan Harbor Maintenance Act of 2011, a revenue-neutral bill that requires the fees collected from the HMTF to be used for just that purpose, maintaining ports nationwide.

Currently, importers must pay a fee for utilization of U.S. ports, which is deposited into the HMTF to pay for operation and maintenance of our nations harbors. In recent years the fund has generated a surplus of over $5 billion. However, that surplus is not being spent on our maritime infrastructure, despite the fact that our navigable channels and ports are deteriorating.

The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that the nation’s 59 busiest ports are available less than 35% of the time because they are inadequately maintained. Chris believes this situation is holding back economic growth and job creation and that we must act to ensure that we have the necessary resources to maintain our ports and rivers, which is why he is a cosponsor of the Harbor Maintenance Act.

In 2010 alone, the ports and waterways of the United States were responsible for more than $1.4 trillion in waterborne commerce. The Port of Wilmington is critical to Delaware’s economy and is North America's number one seaport for imports of fresh fruit, bananas, and juice concentrate. The port’s operations generated over 4,300 direct jobs and about 12,500 related jobs in 2011. Under-maintained maritime channels increase the risk of groundings and the cost of shipping, potentially damaging Delaware’s environment and economy.

This issue is important to the Port of Wilmington and full funding of the HMTF is supported by the Delaware Maritime community and the local International Longshoreman’s Association. Chris has been a vocal supporter of the need to invest in our nation’s infrastructure, and believes that they will not only create jobs in the short run but also enhance our long-term economic competitiveness.

While this “sense of the Senate” resolution is an important step and puts the Senate on the record as supporting the goals of the Harbor Maintenance Act, it is not binding and stronger legislation is needed to ensure that the Port of Wilmington and other ports and their commercial waterways remain safe and open for business. Chris will continue to advocate for the bi-partisan Harbor Maintenance Act and hopes that the Senate will act soon on this legislation. 

Photos: Senator Coons tours Amtrak shops in Bear

BEAR – Senator Coons visited Amtrak’s maintenance shops in Bear last month to meet with workers. The heavy maintenance facility has primary responsibility for overhauling severely damaged train cars and general maintenance on others. On average, the facility can make repairs to 15 train cars per month. Bear is one of Amtrak’s three key East Coast maintenance facilities.

Be sure to check out pictures of Chris’ visit to Amtrak’s Bear shops by clicking here.  

House proposal to privatize the Northeast Corridor is simply off the rails

Yesterday, Chairman John Mica (R-FL) of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) of the House Rail Subcommittee, proposed a U.S. government takeover of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and the subsequent sale of its assets to private companies.  The reaction from Amtrak, regional officials, and business leaders was immediate, with many expressing serious concerns about the impact privatization would have on passengers and the future of rail development in the region and throughout the nation. Senator Coons, too, is concerned about the effect it would have on Delaware, where the Northeast Corridor forms an important link to jobs and the regional economy.  

Chris responded to their proposal yesterday, saying:  “Amtrak has invested in the Northeast Corridor for 40 years and has done an exemplary job of providing efficient rail services while continually improving its operations.  Last month, Amtrak marked 19 straight months of growth in ridership and announced its own plan to pursue private investment in the Northeast Corridor, both of which are very encouraging signs that Amtrak is continuing down the right track.  While I wholeheartedly support public-private partnerships, I do not support selling off the entire Northeast Corridor to the private sector.  Amtrak service is too important to our regional economy.” 

The Northeast Corridor in Delaware is served by 90 daily trains, connecting riders in Wilmington and Newark to destinations as near as Aberdeen, MD, and Philadelphia, PA, to as far as Miami, FL and Burlington, VT.  Over 706,000 people either boarded or exited an Amtrak train in Delaware last year, and Wilmington is ranked as the system’s 12^th busiest station overall. 

Just as important as its wider economic impact, Amtrak also employs more than a thousand Delawareans, and it had procurement contracts with Delaware companies worth over $8 million in 2010.  In fact, Amtrak’s operational nerve center, the Consolidated National Operations Center, moved to Wilmington from Philadelphia in 1998, underscoring Delaware’s major role on the Northeast Corridor and in our national Amtrak rail system as a whole.  A privatization of the Northeast Corridor would have a significant effect on the many Delawareans who work at Amtrak, provide contracted services, and rely on its service to get to work. 

To learn more about Chris’ work on transportation issues, click here.  

Florida's high-speed rail funds come to Delaware

When Florida's governor, Rick Scott, announced that his state was declining its share of federal high-speed rail funds, Delaware's Congressional delegation got to work on putting it to use in Delaware. Today the Department of Transportation announced that $800 million of the $2.02 billion available would be invested in Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.

“When Governor Scott declined to accept his state’s share of these federal funds, we said we wanted to make Florida’s loss Delaware’s gain, and that’s exactly what we did, “ Senator Coons said. “The Department of Transportation made the right call in allocating the largest share of Florida’s unused high-speed rail funds to the Northeast Corridor. When we met with Secretary LaHood in March, I underscored the value of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor as a critical artery for not only Delaware’s economy, but for the country’s. It made sense to invest that money where it could do the most good, and there is no doubt that the Northeast Corridor was that place.”

Chris answers new batch of constituent correspondence

In the second installment of Senator Coons' "Correspondence from the Commute" video series, Chris responds to constituents' questions about the energy efficiency of light bulbs, the Defense of Marriage Act, the Republicans' reckless budget proposal, education reform, high-speed rail and the Blue Rocks' home opener.

Chris recorded this batch of videos last Thursday morning, aboard his Acela train from Wilmington.

“This month I heard from a lot of constituents concerned about the reckless cuts in the Republicans’ budget proposal,” Senator Coons said. “While Congress must tackle long-term deficit reduction that examines both expenditures and revenues, the House proposal would gut programs that are important to a lot of Delawareans, and they’re speaking up about it. I genuinely appreciate that feedback and hope Delawareans continue to advocate for the programs and projects that are most important to them.” 

Videos released today include responses to:

• Keith from New Castle about the BULB Act and energy-efficient light bulbs
• John from Wyoming, Del. about the Defense of Marriage Act
• Mary Jane from Milton about proposed cuts to the Corporation for National and Community Service
• Brandon from Newark about high-speed rail
• Sara from Newport about the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the value of museums to students’ learning
• Dave from New Castle about the Blue Rocks’ home opener

Delaware can benefit from Florida's folly on high-speed rail

With the Administration’s continued focus on high-speed rail development, states have been benefiting from infusions of federal investment to upgrade their rail networks. Unfortunately for their states’ residents, some governors have put the brakes on high speed rail projects. Fortunately for Delaware, Senator Coons and Senator Carper have been urging the federal Department of Transportation to redirect funding from states that refuse it to those that embrace it. 

For well over a century, Delaware has relied on rail transportation to bring its goods to market and transport people in and out of the state. The Wilmington train station, housed in a historic building from the early twentieth century, served over 696,000 travelers last year, making it the 12th busiest in the Amtrak system. As Delaware continues to develop a vibrant innovation-based and advanced manufacturing economy, rail will continue to be important as commuters move throughout the Delaware Valley and new products are exported out of state.

In February, Florida’s Republican Governor, Rick Scott, astoundingly rejected $2.4 billion that in federal funding had been allocated for high speed rail in his state. In response, Chris joined Senator Carper and other senators from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts to ask Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to send those funds to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor instead.

“In addition to reducing congestion on our roads,” Chris said, “high-speed rail makes the cities and states it serves more appealing to businesses looking to open new facilities and put more people to work. If Florida isn't interested in this funding, I'm certain that it can be put to good use up here in Delaware.”

In a statement to the press on March 4, after the Florida Supreme Court upheld Governor Scott’s decision to decline federal rail funding, Chris explained how redirecting this money could benefit Delaware:

“There are a number of important projects in the Northeast Corridor and right here in Delaware that could benefit millions of Americans. Projects like the construction of a new train station in Newark, or a third track connecting Wilmington and Newark to extend SEPTA's reach and ease congestion for Amtrak. We would welcome this funding and could quickly and effectively put it to good use expanding and improving our high-speed rail service. Not only would this create good paying jobs, but it would help ease congestion on our already crowded roads and highways, and reduce harmful air pollution.”

To learn more about the Administration’s plans for national high-speed rail development and how Delaware is already ahead of the game, click here.

Introducing 'Correspondence from the Commute'

Senator Coons today launched a new online series called “Conversations from the Commute.” Each month, Chris will answer questions from Delawareans as he rides Amtrak between Wilmington and Washington. 

Unlike many members of Congress who rent or own second homes in Washington during their terms in office, Chris continues to live full-time in Wilmington, where his children attend school and he and his wife, Annie, remain deeply involved in the local community. On his daily commute to and from Washington, Chris spends his time receiving briefings from staff, reading about legislation, and taking calls from Delaware leaders. Even in his seat on the train, the work of a senator never stops.

In “Conversations from the Commute,” Chris uses some of his time on the train to respond directly to questions from across Delaware. Each month, he will record responses to between five and ten constituent questions received by our office.

To submit your own question, or to express your views on an issue important to you, visit: http://coons.senate.gov/contact/ or send Chris a letter addressed to 383 Russell Office Building, Washington, DC 20510.