Senate Considers Another Amtrak Board Nominee

by Sean Jeans-Gail | VP of Government Affairs + Policy

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The Senate Commerce Committee met earlier today to consider Dr. Lanhee Chen as a potential member of Amtrak’s Board of Directors. In a positive sign for National Network passengers, Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) directly asked whether she could count on Dr. Chen to support long-distance routes -- echoing a line of questioning from a hearing held earlier this month to consider four other nominees to the Amtrak Board. In response, Dr. Chen pledged to support Amtrak’s mission to provide reliable intercity service to communities across the National Network.

“I am very supportive of Amtrak’s long-distance mission,” said Dr. Chen. “I think Amtrak has a couple of goals, as I noted in my introductory remarks. Obviously, there’s a mandate for Amtrak to be run as a business; but more importantly, perhaps, there’s a public mission to Amtrak, as well. The long-distance component is critically important to the future of Amtrak, and if you look historically, it is a big part of Amtrak’s heritage, as well. So, if confirmed to the board I would be an advocate and supporter of long-distance trains and long-distance rail, and the communities it serves throughout the United States, urban and rural.”

The consistent defense of the long-distance routes by members of the Senate Commerce Committee is a testament to the grassroots work done by passenger advocacy groups, including our very own association.

Dr. Chen is a fellow in American Public Policy Studies at the Hoover Institution and Director of Domestic Policy Studies and Lecturer in the Public Policy Program at Stanford University. While he lacks experience in the railroad industry, his opening statement pointed to a long history of using the Amtrak network, while arguing his experience in public policy and governance would be of value in providing oversight to Amtrak operations:

My interest in passenger trains began when I was a young boy. I would visit the Fullerton, California railroad station with my dad to see the Amtrak trains that stop there. We scoured local hobby shops for model Amtrak locomotives and coaches, which I proudly displayed in my room or sometimes got to run on tracks which took over our entire living room.

I am fortunate to still live in California, which has frequent Amtrak service along multiple corridors that link many of its major metropolitan areas and smaller communities in between, thanks largely to past state investments. I have been a passenger on Amtrak’s state-supported routes in California, like the Pacific Surfliner and the Capitol Corridor, and on trains along the Northeast Corridor. I believe that Congress clearly intended to have more representation from the National Network on the Amtrak Board and, as a Californian, I look forward to helping realize that goal.

There are several things I believe I would bring to the Amtrak Board if confirmed. The first is Board experience in a quasi-public setting. The health system board on which I have served for nearly a decade has both fiduciary responsibilities and a public mission. That is also true of Amtrak, which by law is directed both to operate like a business and to provide passenger rail service that may not produce financial returns, but benefits the travelers and communities it serves, particularly those without other transportation options. Balancing financial prudence and a public mission is not an unfamiliar concept to me.

Dr. Chen also emphasized that, as a Californian, he believes he will provide necessary geographic balance to Amtrak’s Board, helping voice the needs of western passengers.

The Senate is scheduled to adjourn until after the election, so there will be a short window for the five current nominees to the Amtrak Board to be confirmed before the end of the 118th Congress. However, based upon favorable comments made by Senators during both hearings, if floor time becomes available, one would predict them to be approved without any major obstacles. Given the variety of experience and geographic representation represented in the nominee pool, that should be good for passengers, and the injection of new blood onto the Amtrak Board would certainly be a welcome development.