U.S. President Barack Obama is calling for a six-year, $53 billion spending plan for high-speed rail, as he seeks to use U.S. infrastructure spending to jumpstart job creation.
An initial $8 billion in spending will be part of the budget plan Obama is set to release next Monday. If Congress approves the plan, the money would go toward developing or improving trains that travel up to 250 miles per hour (400 kph), and connecting existing rail lines to new projects. The White House would not say where the money for the rest of the program would come from, though it is likely Obama would seek funding in future budgets or transportation bills.
Obama’s push for high-speed rail spending is part of his broad goal of creating jobs in the short-term and increasing American competitiveness for the future through new spending on infrastructure, education and innovation. During last month’s State of the Union address, Obama said he wanted to give 80% of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years.
At the same time he is calling for new spending on sectors like high-speed rail in the upcoming budget, Obama also has pledged to cut overall spending as he seeks to bring down the nation’s mounting deficit. The White House has said environmental programs for the Great Lakes, and block grants for community service and community development are among the programs that will face cuts.
But it is unlikely the cuts Obama proposes in the budget will be enough to appease the Republicans. Now controlling the House, they have promised to slash domestic agencies’ budgets by nearly 20% for the coming year.
The White House has said cuts must be cautious, arguing that drastic reductions in spending could cause the still-fragile economic recovery to stall. Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday the administration wouldn’t compromise when it comes to spending on the infrastructure, education and innovation programs Obama is touting.
“We cannot compromise. The rest of the world is not compromising,” Biden said in Philadelphia at an event announcing the high-speed rail initiative.