HB 26-09: Expansion of High Speed Rail and Mass Transit Act (Tabled)

[Rep Jessica]

Oregonbluedog, we built the continental railway across the country over a century ago. Why shouldn't we be able to do better today? Our nation needs to dream again and this is a step in the right direction. Also, I agree with you about extending it to Los Angeles! It makes sense as it will attach the coastal routes.  It will make travel easy for our people.

Here is my amendments

AN ACT
To improve transport and connectivity across our nation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

Section I. Title

i. The long title of this bill shall be the "Expansion of High Speed Rail and Mass Transit Act." It may be cited as the "High Speed Rail Act."

Section II. Definitions
i. High speed rail is defined as a railroad capable of supporting trains in excess of 120 mph.

Section III. Construction of High Speed Rail Arteries
i. A high speed railway shall be constructed from San Diego, CA to Seattle, WA. The railway must include access stations in Los Angeles, CA, San Jose, CA, and Portland, OR.
     a. The Department of Transportation should negotiate possible connections through Canada and Mexico.
ii. A high speed railway shall be constructed from Miami, FL to Boston, MA. The railway must include access stations in Charlotte, NC, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, PA, and New York City, NY.
iii. A high speed railway shall be constructed from Chicago, IL to St. Louis, MO. The railway must include access stations in Bloomington, IL and Springfield, IL.
iv. A high speed railway shall be constructed from Virginia Beach, VA to Phoenix, AZ Los Angeles. The railway must include access to stations in Richmond, VA, Nashville, TN, Houston, TX, El Paso, TX and Phoenix, AZ.

Section IV. Creation of National Rail Authority
i. The National Rail Authority is hereby established under the Department of Transportation and tasked with the responsibility of overseeing construction, rail route development, and consumer-end transit program implementation.
ii. The National Rail Authority shall consist of members appointed by the President of Atlasia.
iii. Modifications to the seaboard routes and placement of cross-country rail routes shall be the responsibility of the National Rail Authority.
iv. Congress shall retain the ability to legislate new routes or override the decisions of the National Rail Authority if necessary.

Section V. Appropriations
i. $80 billion shall be appropriated for the construction of new rail and adaptation of old rail for the creation of the seaboard routes.
ii. $250 million shall be appropriated for surveying and planning of cross-country rail routes.
iii. $3 billion shall be appropriated for the construction of connecting routes to off-route cities.
iv. $150 billion shall be released for construction of new rail and adaptation of old rail for the creation of cross country routes pending a finalized route plan from the National Rail Authority.
v. $8 billion shall be released for the construction of connecting routes to off-route cities pending a finalized route plan from the National Rail Authority.

[Joseph Cao]

Jessica's amendment will be considered after Rep. Jackson's.

A vote is now open on Jackson's amendment:

AN ACT
To improve transport and connectivity across our nation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

Section I. Title

i. The long title of this bill shall be the "Expansion of High Speed Rail and Mass Transit Act." It may be cited as the "High Speed Rail Act."

Section II. Definitions
i. High speed rail is defined as a railroad capable of supporting trains in excess of 120 mph.

Section III. Construction of High Speed Rail Arteries
i. A high speed railway shall be constructed from San Diego, CA to Seattle, WA. The railway must include access stations in Los Angeles, CA, San Jose, CA, and Portland, OR.
     a. The Department of Transportation should negotiate possible connections through Canada and Mexico.
ii. A high speed railway shall be constructed from Miami, FL to Boston, MA. The railway must include access stations in Charlotte, NC, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, PA, and New York City, NY.
iii. A high speed railway shall be constructed from Chicago, IL to St. Louis, MO. The railway must include access stations in Bloomington, IL and Springfield, IL.
iv. A high speed railway shall be constructed from Virginia Beach, VA to Phoenix, AZ. The railway must include access to stations in Richmond, VA, Staunton, VA, Roanoke, VA, Knoxville, TN, Nashville, TN, Jackson, TN, Memphis, TN, Little Rock, AR, Texarkana, AR, Shreveport, LA, Nacogdoches, TX, Houston, TX, Austin, TX, and El Paso, TX, Las Cruces, NM, and Tucson, AZ.

Section IV. Creation of National Rail Authority
i. The National Rail Authority is hereby established under the Department of Transportation and tasked with the responsibility of overseeing construction, rail route development, and consumer-end transit program implementation.
ii. The National Rail Authority shall consist of members appointed by the President of Atlasia.
iii. Modifications to the seaboard routes and placement of cross-country rail routes shall be the responsibility of the National Rail Authority.
iv. Congress shall retain the ability to legislate new routes or override the decisions of the National Rail Authority if necessary.

Section V. Appropriations
i. $80 billion shall be appropriated for the construction of new rail and adaptation of old rail for the creation of the seaboard routes.
ii. $250 million shall be appropriated for surveying and planning of cross-country rail routes.
iii. $3 billion shall be appropriated for the construction of connecting routes to off-route cities.
iv. $150 billion shall be released for construction of new rail and adaptation of old rail for the creation of cross country routes pending a finalized route plan from the National Rail Authority.
v. $8 billion shall be released for the construction of connecting routes to off-route cities pending a finalized route plan from the National Rail Authority.

Representatives, the question is on adoption of the amendment above.

Please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[SevenEleven]

Nay.l

[Rep Jessica]

Aye

[Left Wing]

Nay

[Spark]

Aye

[Joseph Cao]

NAY!

[Joseph Cao]

Vote closes. By a vote of 2-3-0-4, this amendment fails.

[Joseph Cao]

A vote is now open on Jessica's amendment.

72 hours to vote. Please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[SevenEleven]

Nay.

[Spark]

Aye

[Left Wing]

Nay

[Rep Jessica]

Aye

[Adam Griffin]

Nay

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Aye

[Joseph Cao]

Nay.

[Tamika Jackson]

Aye

[Joseph Cao]

The voting period has ended. Amendment vote tied, 4-4.

Mr. Vice President?

[Dr. MB]

Aye. Gonna give the benefit of the doubt here.

[SevenEleven]

Uh, wow.

Motion to table.

[Continential]

Uh, wow.

Motion to table.

Aye. Gonna give the benefit of the doubt here.

I wonder who you support for President because you attacked someone in Councilor Ninja's party for "destructive to the advancement of high speed rail", and your own Chair and someone who you endorsed supported in your own words, "destructive to the advancement of high speed rail".

[SevenEleven]

Uh, wow.

Motion to table.

Aye. Gonna give the benefit of the doubt here.

I wonder who you support for President because you attacked someone in Councilor Ninja's party for "destructive to the advancement of high speed rail", and your own Chair and someone who you endorsed supported in your own words, "destructive to the advancement of high speed rail".

This sort of politicking doesn't belong on the House floor, Ishan. You'll get to see my vote when I vote.

[Rep Jessica]

I motion for a final vote! Lets build the super trains of Atlasian greatness!!!

[Former President tack50]

For what is worth, I see people here are complaining about stations on places like Texarkana TX; with a population of 36k people.

However, for what is worth Spain irl built an HSR station in a town of a whopping 961 people (Tardienta); and is considering whether or not to build one on a town of a whopping 26 people (Puebla de Sanabria)

Although I will say that those stations were and are a bad idea (and so is probably extending the line that far). Guess we'll have to "fix" that in the Senate

[Joseph Cao]

OK, uh.

Sev's motion was made first. Motions to table require the support of at least two representatives, so I am giving 24 hours for anyone who wishes to do so to second the motion. If anyone does so, a vote will be opened on the motion, and Jessica's motion for a final vote will be acted on only if the tabling vote fails. Otherwise, consider the bill tabled.