March 5, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 39 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H2343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CALIFORNIA'S HIGH-SPEED RAIL SYSTEM

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight some new 
legislation I am introducing this week, H.R. 1515, the High-Speed 
Refund Act.
  Simply put, California's proposed high-speed rail system has been a 
total disaster. It will not meet the legal requirements of true high-
speed rail from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The total projected cost 
has now ballooned to $100 billion, tripling what the voters were told 
back in 2008.
  The Trump administration has already canceled a $929 million grant, 
but I think they should take the entire $3.5 billion in Federal dollars 
that California is wasting under the Stimulus Act of 2009, 10 years 
ago. That is why my bill, the High-Speed Refund Act, would require 
California to refund all Federal funding for high-speed rail and 
repurpose it to highway and transportation projects that would actually 
benefit people and be economically viable.
  Madam Speaker, $5 billion has already been wasted. Let's not make it 
$100 billion. Undertaking the project was a huge mistake. I think 
Californians and the other 49 States deserve a refund and to have this 
money channeled into something that would be more useful for all 
Americans.

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