5th District Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty is praising  the advancement of legislation to provide Amtrak with over a billion dollars in funding next fiscal year.  The Vice Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee says a 21st-century economy can not be run on a crumbling 20th-century infrastructure.  She called on Amtrak to make long-overdue upgrades and repairs, expand passenger rail service to underserved communities, and lay the groundwork for future high-speed rail.  The Amtrak funds were included in a government spending bill covering the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban development.