U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) stressed the importance of Congress passing COVID-19 relief funding to keep America’s rail industry and transportation sectors afloat amidst the economic crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday.
During the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s hearing on the rail industry, Cantwell noted that ridership on Amtrak is down 90 percent and 30 percent of her state’s Amtrak workforce is facing furloughs. Cantwell is the ranking member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
“In 2019, 14.8 million people worked in transportation and transportation-related jobs—nearly 10% of the U.S. labor force,” Cantwell said in her opening statement. “And throughout this pandemic, workers have continued to keep food on the table and get medical equipment to the hospitals of first responders, they have brought those first responders to the loved ones who’ve been affected by COVID-19, and they continue to keep our frontline workers in all sectors going strong with the services and supplies they need. That is why I think it’s so important for the Senate to take up legislation that would include relief for the transportation sector… Workers in rural communities across the country, including in my home state, will pay the price if we don’t see this aid.”
Without stimulus funding, communities in her state would suffer, she said.
“Our two long-distance Amtrak lines, Coast Starlight and the Empire Builder serve 15 communities, the majority of them small and rural communities. And in some areas, Amtrak is the only means of public transportation, providing a direct line for economic success in rural communities and across the state… More than 30 percent of the Amtrak workforce in Washington state is already facing furloughs. Thousands of more employees will see their jobs threatened, and local economies across the country will lose billions if we don’t get Amtrak support into one of our bills,” she said.
In May, the House passed a $3 trillion stimulus package, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) refused to bring the bill to the floor of the Senate for a vote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has continued negotiating with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin on a stimulus package. As of Thursday, the package has yet to be brought to the floor of the Senate.