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Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. It mentions members such as Roger F. Wicker.
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September 22, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. WICKER. Mr. President, today I commend Roger Harris, who has been an excellent partner to the State of Mississippi and to passenger rail across the country. This year, Mr. Harris is concluding 7 years of service with Amtrak, a tenure which has been marked by dedication and success.
in commercial aviation. He excelled and, within 3 years, was promoted to president. He devoted himself and the company to running a great railroad, building for the future, and increasing revenue and ridership across the entire Amtrak network.
the railroad's history. In the depths of the pandemic, he helped provide steady leadership, enabling the company to continue delivering essential service, even as daily ridership declined by up to 97 percent. He led the company through an impressive post-pandemic recovery. Amtrak has set back-to-back revenue and ridership records over the last 2 years, and the company is currently on track for another banner year. It is worth noting that Amtrak has met this growing demand for train service while delivering major capital projects, including new trains and facilities, more accessible stations, and the biggest Northeast Corridor infrastructure program in Amtrak history.
Under his leadership, Amtrak has been ambitious: launching the NextGen Acela fleet, beginning the delivery of the Airo fleet, laying the groundwork to replace much of the long distance fleet, advancing major infrastructure projects like the Portal North Bridge and the B&P Tunnel Replacement, and expanding service in places like Virginia and the Midwest Borealis train. Of particular interest to my constituents, he helped accomplish what Mississippians had anticipated for two decades: the return of passenger rail to the gulf coast.
represent. Hurricane Katrina silenced that line in 2005. For 20 years, the gulf coast lost not just a train but one of its connections to the rest of the country. I spent the better part of a decade in the U.S. Senate working to restore this service. I testified before the Surface Transportation Board, secured Federal investment, and spoke to every Amtrak and Federal Railroad Administration official that I could reach. On August 18, 2025, the Mardi Gras Service was restored. Through it all, Mr. Harris and his team were also integral to restoring the service.
expectation. Amtrak projected 71,000 riders during the service's first year. The line has carried more than 100,000 passengers just in 8 months. Riders have embraced the service, giving it the highest customer satisfaction rating in the Amtrak system.
That success did not happen by accident. It reflects a leadership philosophy that values customer service, operational excellence, and a willingness to invest in communities that had waited far too long for passenger rail. Roger believed the gulf coast corridor was worth restoring, and the people of Mississippi are better served because of his belief.
accessible, and willing to work together. Because of that, Mr. Harris does not only leave Amtrak in a stronger position than he found it. He also leaves it with many a friend in Mississippi. On behalf of the people of my State and the taxpayer—and of the riders along the gulf coast who have a Mardi Gras Service to be proud of—I thank Roger Harris for his service. I wish him and his family well in the next adventure.