Major news this afternoon. The U.S. House just a few moments ago passed HR-6003, the Passenger Rail Investment & Improvement Act of 2008, by a veto-proof majority…. 311 to 104.
You’ll recall the Senate passed its version of the bill (S-294) by a 93 to 6 margin late last year. The next step will be for the bill to go to a joint House-Senate Conference Committee. The conferees have not yet been named.
This bill, if it becomes law, will not only greatly increase funding for Amtrak, but carries the first-ever state matching grant program that can advance the Ohio Hub Plan and state-generated passenger rail plans like it around the nation.
Here’s how Ohio’s Congressional delegation voted today:
Nay OH-1 Chabot, Steven [R]
Nay OH-2 Schmidt, Jean [R]
Aye OH-3 Turner, Michael [R]
Nay OH-4 Jordan, Jim [R]
Nay OH-5 Latta, Robert [R]
Aye OH-6 Wilson, Charles [D]
Nay OH-7 Hobson, David [R]
Nay OH-8 Boehner, John [R]
No Vote OH-9 Kaptur, Marcy [D]
Aye OH-10 Kucinich, Dennis [D]
Aye OH-11 Jones, Stephanie [D]
Aye OH-12 Tiberi, Patrick [R]
Aye OH-13 Sutton, Betty [D]
Aye OH-14 LaTourette, Steven [R]
Aye OH-15 Pryce, Deborah [R]
Aye OH-16 Regula, Ralph [R]
Aye OH-17 Ryan, Timothy [D]
Aye OH-18 Space, Zackary [D]
Related Stories:
– The Passenger Rail Investment & Improvement Act
– Strickland wants 3-C Passenger Rail Restored