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 This letter was also sent to Senator Lott, Senator Daschle, Senator Hutchison and Senator Biden.

February 20, 2001

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Bush:

On behalf of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), we would like to express our support for S. 250 the High-Speed Rail Investment Act (HSRIA) and encourage your support for the same. As I am sure you are aware, HSRIA was well received in Congress last session and was nearly adopted. This session, already more than fifty co-sponsors have pledged their support for HSRIA and the transportation benefits and options it offers. NCSL asks for your support of this legislation and hopes to work closely with you to ensure enactment of HSRIA.

We strongly support HSRIA and are certain it will strengthen high-speed rail investment and benefit rail infrastructure nation-wide. States believe allowing and providing incentives for investment in the development of high-speed rail corridors could help them bolster an under-developed transportation alternative to help alleviate the stress on our nation's overburdened airways and roadways.

State governments believe developing a viable rail transportation system provides us with opportunities to reduce traffic congestion and to diversify the nation's transportation system, while contributing to economic growth and an improved environment. In addition, we are very supportive of the provision in HSRIA that would make funds available to improve existing non-high-speed rail. This provision would expand the potential benefit of the legislation to many states that have invested in rail but do not yet have designated high-speed rail corridors.

Thank you again for your consideration of our views. We look forward to working with you to ensure HSRIA's enactment. For additional information, please have your staff contact Eileen Doherty (202) 624-8687 or eileen.doherty@ncsl.org in NCSL's Washington, D.C. office.

Sincerely,

Senator Jim Costa
California State Senate
President, NCSL