Cantwell Leads Amtrak Board Nomination Hearing, Discusses Rail Safety, On-Time Performance, Western Service Expansion
September 11, 2024
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening remarks at today’s hearing for President Biden’s nominees, David Capozzi, Samuel Lathem, Ronald Batory and Elaine Clegg, to serve as members on the Amtrak Board of Directors. Read the testimonies and watch the hearing here.
“Amtrak is in the midst of one of the most significant transformations since it was founded over 50 years ago, thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” Sen. Cantwell said during the hearing. “The company’s service options are also growing. At the end of last year, Amtrak added two roundtrips to the Cascades service between Seattle and Portland…Whether it is wise and effective infrastructure investments or ensuring safety remains the company’s top priority, it is the job of these Board Members to make sure these issues are addressed.”
“I especially want to thank my colleague Senator Tester for leading the fight to ensure the Biden Administration nominated individuals from the West. Thanks to his efforts, the nominees here today, and the most recent nominee announced this week, bring a broader geographic representation that is much needed,” Sen. Cantwell continued.
Due to Sen. Cantwell’s leadership, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $58 billion for passenger rail, including $22 billion for Amtrak – the largest bipartisan investment in passenger rail in history. Following the pandemic route cancellations, Sen. Cantwell urged the Amtrak CEO and director nominees to commit to the full-service restoration of the Amtrak Cascades route. Due to her advocacy, the Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. service has been open since September 2022. And in March 2023, Sen. Cantwell announced that a second daily trip was restored, bringing service back to pre-pandemic levels. Recently, in December 2023, Amtrak fulfilled another promise to Sen. Cantwell and added two more daily roundtrips between Seattle and Portland for a total of seven daily round trips.
Earlier this year, Cantwell led the Senate confirmations of Christopher Koos, Anthony Coscia and Joel Szabat to the Amtrak Board – the first time the Senate confirmed an Amtrak nominee since 2015. Amtrak is governed by a ten-member Board of Directors, including the Secretary of Transportation, the President of Amtrak and eight individuals appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Amtrak's Board of Directors sets policy and oversees the management and strategic direction of the company.
Trump Rail Safety Chief & Rail Industry Leader Says He Would Not Operate Two-Mile-Long Train With Only One Crewmember
Railway Safety Act, requiring two-person crew, may see floor action soon
During the Committee hearing for President Biden’s nominees to serve on the Amtrak Board of Directors, former Trump Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator and long-time rail industry leader, Ronald Batory, told Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) he would not operate a two-mile-long train with only one crew member. Batory’s comments come as Senate Majority Leader Schumer considers bringing the bipartisan Railway Safety Act, including a two-person crew requirement, to the Senate Floor.
Here is the exchange between Sen. Cantwell and Mr. Batory: Watch Here
Sen. Cantwell: Mr. Batory, I wanted to return a follow-up to Senator Markey's question about your time at FRA in the Trump Administration on the FRA issues on safety. During the time you were working in the rail industry, would you have ever had a two-mile-long train operating across the country with only one crew member?
Mr. Batory: Senator, not knowing the specifics, it's doubtful that I would. There's no such word as can't. But as far as generically saying, would I run a train across the country two miles long with one crew member? Probably not. Because there are portions of the rail network that are complicated, there's topography, there's demand issues, so there's a lot of variables that come into play. And that's why I've always said, let the people closest to the work decide what needs to be done.
Batory spent 45 years in the railroad industry, the first 23 years spent working for both eastern and western Class I railroads. In 1994, he was appointed president of the Belt Railway Company of Chicago, a multiple-owned subsidiary of then nine competing Class I carriers, and later joined the Consolidated Rail Corporation. He was later appointed president and chief operating officer for the corporate entity. In 2017, Batory was nominated by former President Trump and appointed as FRA administrator.
