Casey Had Previously Advocated for Funding
In his letter today, Senator Casey noted the importance of improving rail projects in the region to accommodate increased traffic associated with natural gas exploration and production in the Marcellus Shale formation. Revoking this funding now will break a commitment the federal government made and put the region at an economic disadvantage, Senator Casey wrote.
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Chairman Inouye and Ranking Member Cochran:
I write today to express my strong opposition to efforts in the House to rescind previously appropriated funding for the TIGER II program. Through this program, Lycoming County government and the SEDA-Council of Governments Joint Rail Authority, located in central Pennsylvania, received a competitive award of $10 million for regional rail improvements related to natural gas development.
I support efforts to cut funding for wasteful and inefficient federal programs. That is why I voted this week for the Senate version of the fiscal 2011 budget bill, which, as you know, sought to cut $4.7 billion from current spending levels. This bill would have built on other targeted cuts totaling $2 billion that Congress enacted with my support in the bill that is currently funding federal operations.
We need to take a thoughtful approach to cutting ineffective and redundant programs while finding other ways to save taxpayer dollars. However, the House’s decision to cut the TIGER II program and jeopardize the $10 million award to the Lycoming County government and the SEDA-Council of Governments Joint Rail Authority is counterproductive to efforts to forge an economic recovery in central Pennsylvania.
This grant, which was awarded funding on the merits after a national competitive process, seeks to make much-needed investments in 15 rail improvement projects in a six county region. The construction of new tracks and rehabilitation of old ones will position the railroads to accommodate increases in rail freight traffic associated with natural gas exploration and production in the Marcellus Shale formation. It also includes significant air, bicycle, truck, and passenger vehicle improvements.
I have worked closely with local officials in the region, and I strongly support this project because it will spur economic growth and job creation in central Pennsylvania. Revoking this funding now will undoubtedly put the region at an economic disadvantage. Moreover, it will break a commitment the federal government made through this grant to support this development effort.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We need to take concrete steps to reduce the federal deficit and national debt. However, eliminating this funding will slow regional economic activity at a time when we can least afford it.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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