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Passenger rail caucus boarding today at Union Station
A passenger rail caucus launched by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and several House members will be rolled out Tuesday with a noon press conference at Union Station in Washington.
The setting is symbolic because Union Station houses Amtrak, the Maryland Area Regional Commuter service and Washington's WMATA MetroRail.
Lawmakers in the group hope to use the new caucus to rebut criticisms of President Obama's high-speed rail initiative.
The group, which has been christened the Congressional Bicameral High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Caucus, will comprise Democratic lawmakers from states seeking federal money for high-speed rail.
The development of the caucus follows Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s (R) decision to reject federal funds for rail. He became the third GOP governor to do so.
Lautenberg and Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), John Oliver (D-Mass.), Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), David Price (D-N.C.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Tim Walz (D-Minn.) will jointly chair the caucus.
