Rep. McBride Leads More Than 100 of Her Colleagues in Bipartisan Push for Robust Federal Investment in Amtrak and Passenger Rail Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-Del.), alongside Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Don Bacon (R-Neb.), sent a bipartisan letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies urging robust funding for Amtrak and passenger rail at levels authorized under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). 

Continued investment in our nation’s railways, including Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor—which runs through Wilmington, Delaware—is essential to keeping passenger rail travel affordable, safe, and up to date.

“Amtrak is part of the beating heart of Wilmington—connecting Delawareans to communities across the Northeast and beyond, and keeping our local economy moving,” said Rep. McBride. “But to strengthen and modernize our passenger rail infrastructure, we need robust federal investment—not just for the Northeast Corridor, the busiest rail line in the country, but across Amtrak’s network that helps keep us connected and creates good-paying jobs. I’m proud to be working with Rep. Moulton and my colleagues across the aisle to ensure we can improve the affordability, reliability, and safety of passenger rail.”

“America was built on the rail lines that connected our communities, created good-paying jobs, and drove our economy forward, and we have a responsibility to keep that promise alive,” said Rep. Moulton. “This goes beyond just funding trains. It's about reducing congestion on our highways, investing in thousands of good-paying jobs, and connecting rural towns to urban centers. From the Northeast Corridor to the National Network's long-distance routes, every region of this country deserves world-class passenger rail infrastructure. I want to especially thank Congresswoman McBride, Congressman Fitzpatrick, and Congressman Bacon for their partnership and leadership on this letter. Together, we're making clear that investing in passenger rail is investing in America's future.”

In their letter, McBride and colleagues call for continued federal investment to strengthen and modernize the nation’s passenger rail system, including Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, which serves as a main stop at the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station in Wilmington. Specifically, the members point to the upcoming expiration of funding authorized by the IIJA on September 30, 2026 and urge the committee to maintain consistent funding for several key programs supporting passenger rail nationwide, including the Amtrak Northeast Corridor, the Amtrak National Network, the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, and the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grants.

“Today, American railways are lagging behind the rest of the world. We acknowledge that this year’s spending decisions are difficult—however, given that IIJA authorized funding expires in FY26, we emphasize the importance of providing funding at least at the level authorized by the IIJA to continue the state of good repair and expansion projects that are underway and expand critically needed safety programs. We have a responsibility to bring our infrastructure into the future to compete in the global economy, serve passengers across the nation, and invest in good-paying jobs for thousands of workers,” wrote the lawmakers. 

Text of the letter can be found here.

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