House hearing on Amtrak funding set for Wednesday

By Keith Laing - 11/27/12 02:27 PM ET

House Republicans have scheduled their anticipated hearing on Amtrak funding for Wednesday morning.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday to review Amtrak's reorganization plans. The hearing is a part of an ongoing GOP effort to question Amtrak's approximately $1 billion federal subsidy, which many Republican lawmakers allege wastes taxpayer dollars.

Supporters of the company have argued that the combination of President Obama winning reelection and recent ridership records for Amtrak have strengthened the railway's hand on Capitol Hill.

Amtrak has said that its fare collections paid for 79 percent of its operations last year, which the company has said is a record.

House Transportation Committee officials noted in announcing Wednesday's meeting however that while "Congress designed Amtrak to be operated and managed as a for-profit corporation, it continues to receive federal appropriations to support its services."

Amtrak President Joe Boardman, Inspector General Ted Alves and United Transportation Union Legislative Director James Stem will testify at the Transportation Committee hearing.