WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement applauding the announcement of Amtrak’s Master Development Agreement with Penn Station Partners to provide $90 million in funding to modernize and improve Baltimore Penn Station:

“Commuters throughout Maryland rely on Baltimore Penn Station every day. This funding will make necessary updates to improve the lives of those who live and work in our community. We’re glad to see this significant investment in the Station, and we will continue working in the Senate to modernize infrastructure across our state.”

Senators Cardin and Van Hollen have strongly supported Amtrak and worked to secure $650 million in funding for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor in Fiscal Year 2019. The Senators will continue to fight for funding for the corridor in spite of the President’s request of only $335.5 million in his Fiscal Year 2020 budget – a cut of almost fifty percent. According to the Northeast Corridor Commission, for Fiscal Years 2019-2023, there is a $1.93 billion unfunded backlog of projects.