Lawmakers hold hearings for Amtrak board nominations [Video]

A WALK IN CLINIC AT THE HYDE PARK MUNICIPAL BUILDING BETWEEN 9AM AND 330PM. FEDERAL LAWMAKERS ARE HOLDING HEARINGS FOR NEW PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS TO THE AMTRAK BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AT A RECENT SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE HEARING, SENATOR PETER WELCH QUESTIONED THE NOMINEES ABOUT HOW THEY WILL PRIORITIZE VERMONT’S RAIL NEEDS. DURING THE HEARING, WELCH PUSHED FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO CROSS- BORDER TRAIN SERVICE BETWEEN VERMONT AND CANADA. AS WELL AS OPENING A PRE- CLEARANCE FACILITY TO HELP EXPEDITE TRAVEL BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. HE ALSO QUESTIONED THE NOMINEES ABOUT AMTRAK’S PLAN FOR DEALING WITH EXTREME WEATHER. WELCH SAYS AFTER THE 2023 FLOOD EVENTS IN VERMONT, 409 MILES OF RAIL WERE DAMAGED ACROSS THE STATE. HE SAYS AMTRAK NEEDS TO BUILD BACK BETTER. <1:30 OBVIOUSLY SAFETY IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR YOU, AND WEATHER EVENTS ARE GOING TO EFFECT SAFETY. BUT I DO THINK THAT IT DOES RAISE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS ABOUT RESILIENCY …