Laura Kliewer, MIPRC's director, attended and submitted testimony to the US House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee hearing on Feb. 20 in DuPage County, Illinois. The hearing was part of the committee's listening tour on surface transportation reauthorization.

Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) – as well as rail subcommittee chair Bill Shuster (R-PA) and new member Randy Hultgren (R-IL) – were present for the hearing. Rep. Hultgren, who was elected in November to represent Illinois House District 14, is also a new member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and this hearing was held in his district.

Kliewer submitted testimony that asked Congress to include passenger rail development as a key component to any reauthorization of the federal surface transportation program. She also explained the long history of passenger rail development and cooperation in the Midwestern states, the strong growth of passenger rail ridership, and some of the benefits the nascent HSIPR federal partnership has already brought to the region.

"The Midwestern region has and will benefit strongly from the federal government’s commitment to partnering with the states to provide capital improvements to corridors in our region. Our states, and states across the country that are planning for faster, more frequent passenger rail service will continue to need the federal government’s partnership," she said. To view her testimony, click here.