STATEMENT FROM SENATOR DAVE CORTESE ON FEDERAL THREAT TO RESCIND HIGH-SPEED RAIL FUNDS

SACRAMENTO – In response to the Federal Railroad Administration’s announcement today regarding potential cancellation of $4 billion in federal grants for California’s high-speed rail project, State Senator Dave Cortese (D- Silicon Valley), Chair of the California Transportation Committee, issued the following statement:

“We cannot allow partisan theatrics to derail clean transportation. This latest deeply politicized move by the federal government is disappointing, but not surprising - federal uncertainty is already hurting Californians, leading to rising costs for materials and delays across critical housing and transportation projects.

The California high-speed rail project is under active construction with over 100 miles underway. The project has already created over 15,000 good-paying jobs, engaged 900 small businesses, and will prevent 142 million metric tons of carbon pollution.

It’s shameful that some lawmakers would support taking critical infrastructure dollars away from their own communities. California already sends $81 billion more to Washington than it gets back. Now, they want to give away another $4 billion. I seriously question the judgment of anyone who thinks that’s good for our state.

This is a project that will unlock major employment access across the Tri-Valley and beyond. The Central Valley is the top agricultural producer in the country - it deserves 21st-century infrastructure, and should not be neglected.

We need long-term investment and the stakes are too high for this type of continued dysfunction from Washington.”

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