FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing: The State of High-Speed Rail in the U.S.

Original title: LAGGING BEHIND: THE STATE OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL IN THE UNITED STATES

January 1, 2016

transportation high-speed rail infrastructure congressional oversight

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing serves as an official oversight review of federal transportation policy, which influences how government funds are allocated for national rail infrastructure projects.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Federal Railroad Administration

The agency is subject to congressional oversight regarding its management of the high-speed rail program.

Local Municipalities

Cities like Normal, Illinois, are involved in rail infrastructure projects that rely on federal policy and funding.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2016.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is the transcript of a 2016 House hearing focused on reviewing the progress and status of the federal high-speed rail program. Lawmakers and expert witnesses discussed the current state of rail infrastructure and the challenges facing high-speed rail development in the United States.

Key Facts

The hearing was held on July 14, 2016, by the Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets.
The hearing's purpose was to conduct oversight of the federal high-speed rail program.
Four witnesses provided testimony: Sarah Feinberg (FRA), Baruch Feigenbaum (Reason Foundation), Thomas Hart Jr. (Rail Forward), and Chris Koos (Mayor of Normal, IL).
The subcommittee authorized the chair to declare a recess at any time.
Congressman Rodney Davis was granted unanimous consent to participate in the proceedings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?

The hearing was held to review the status and progress of the federal high-speed rail program as part of the 's oversight responsibilities.

Who testified at the hearing?

The witnesses included Sarah Feinberg (Federal Railroad Administration), Baruch Feigenbaum (Reason Foundation), Thomas Hart Jr. (Rail Forward), and Chris Koos (Mayor of Normal, Illinois).

Why It Matters

The hearing serves as an official oversight review of federal transportation policy, which influences how government funds are allocated for national rail infrastructure projects.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Historical Oversight Focus

The hearing highlights a 2016 legislative effort to evaluate the effectiveness of federal high-speed rail investments.

Federal Railroad Administration

Connected Entities

personRodney Davis“Congressman from Illinois”Map →

personChris Koos“Mayor of Normal, Illinois”Map →

personJohn L. Mica“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets”Map →

personSarah Feinberg“Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration”Map →

personBaruch Feigenbaum“Assistant Director, Transportation Policy, Reason Foundation”Map →

personTammy Duckworth“Ranking Member of the Subcommittee”Map →

personThomas Hart Jr.“President, Rail Forward”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance40
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

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