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The 39-member House and Senate [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] congressional delegation from California wrote a letter in response to Secretary Chao on February 3, noting "a material misstatement of fact" in the January 24 letter, namely that the grant was being sought by Caltrain, not CHSRA; delineating the separation between PCEP and CAHSR; and urging her to "approve this grant agreement immediately", citing past precedent that only one low-rated project failed to receive a signature from the Secretary of Transportation over the prior 20-year history of the Core Capacity program.<ref name=DemocraticLetter>{{cite letter |url=http://cal.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/CA-Delegation-letter-to-Secretary-Chao-re-Caltrain-2.3.17.pdf |author1=Eshoo, Anna |author2=Lofgren, Zoe |author3=Feinstein, Dianne |author4=Harris, Kamala |author5=Bass, Karen |author6=Bera, Ami |author7=Correa, Luis |author8=Brownley, Julia |author9=Chu, Judy |author10=Aguilar, Pete |author11=Lee, Barbara |author12=Davis, Susan |author13=Peters, Scott |author14=Torres, Norma |author15=Thompson, Mike |author16=DeSaulnier, Mark |author17=Lieu, Ted |author18=Takano, Mark |author19=Swalwell, Eric |author20=Costa, Jim |author21=Speier, Jackie |author22=Panetta, Jimmy |author23=Khanna, Ro |author24=Roybal-Allard, Lucille |author25=Carbajal, Salud O. |author26=Barragán, Nanette Diaz |author27=Huffman, Jared |author28=Lowenthal, Alan |author29=Cárdenas, Tony |author30=Matsui, Doris O. |author31=Sánchez, Linda T. |author32=Waters, Maxine |author33=McNerney, Jerry |author34=Napolitano, Grace F. |author35=Garamendi, John |author36=Sherman, Brad |author37=Ruiz, Raul |author38=Vargas, Juan |author39=Schiff, Adam B. |date=3 February 2017 |recipient=The Honorable [[Elaine Chao]], Secretary of Transportation |subject=CA Democratic Delegation Letter to Secretary Chao |accessddate=28 March 2017}}</ref><ref name=SMDJ-170208>{{cite news |url=http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2017-02-08/dems-fight-for-electrification-congressional-debate-centers-on-funding-for-caltrain-modernization/1776425175561.html |title=Dems fight for electrification: congressional debate centers on funding for Caltrain modernization |author=Weigel, Samantha |date=8 February 2017 |newspaper=San Mateo Daily Journal |accessdate=1 April 2017}}</ref> The Democratic letter went on to note the infrastructure benefits of the project and the creation of 9,600 jobs, including 550 jobs at a new Stadler USA plant in Salt Lake City.<ref name=DemocraticLetter /><ref name=SMDJ-170208 />
Several signatories to the House Republican letter were asked why they would block funding for California.<ref name=SJMN-170207 /> Dan Morain pointed out that despite regularly soliciting campaign funds from Silicon Valley business leaders, Representative [[Kevin McCarthy (California politician)|Kevin McCarthy]] (R-[[California's 23rd congressional district|CA23]]) was targeting a project that benefited the region directly.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dan-morain/article134903629.html |title=Kevin McCarthy displays his clout, for good and ill |author=Morain, Dan |date=24 February 2017 |newspaper=Sacramento Bee |accessdate=28 March 2017}}</ref> Representative [[Devin Nunes]] (R-[[California's 22nd congressional district|CA22]]) was unmoved by arguments on infrastructure benefits, saying in late February that he wasn't going "to feel too bad about one of the richest places on the planet not having a train."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/california-playbook/2017/02/trump-electrifies-ca-republicans-issas-evolution-nunes-doubles-down-on-caltrain-218921 |title=TRUMP electrifies CA REPUBLICANS — ISSA's EVOLUTION — NUNES doubles down on CALTRAIN |author1=Siders, David |author2=Marinucci, Carla |author3=Ocasio, Bianca Padro |date=27 February 2017 |website=California Playbook |publisher=Politico |accessdate=28 March 2017 |quote=In response [to] questions from POLITICO on Saturday, Nunes said the federal government shouldn’t pay for a project in “one of the richest places on the planet.” — “I don’t know much about the transit system there in Silicon Valley, so I’m a little bit out of my realm to answer this,’’ Nunes said. “But I err on the side of the federal government really shouldn’t be involved in those issues, like high speed rail.” Told the project represents 10,000 jobs and potentially millions of dollars of impact to the economy, Nunes said: “I don’t see them crying about the 30 percent unemployment in Mendota … I don’t see them trying to help the farmworkers … So you’re not going to get me to feel too bad about one of the richest places on the planet not having a train.”}}</ref> Representative [[Jeff Denham]] (R-[[California's 10th congressional district|CA10]]) defended the letter, saying PCEP and CHSRA were closely intertwined because PCEP derived some funding under the "blended plan" agreement of 2012.<ref name=SJMN-170207 /> Representative [[Tom McClintock]] (R-[[California's 4th congressional district|CA04]]) reiterated his opposition to high-speed rail without addressing PCEP: "I have never supported a dollar of state funding going for [high-speed rail], and would never support a dollar of federal funding."<ref name=SJMN-170207 /> Representative [[Mimi Walters]] (R-[[California's 45th congressional district|CA45]]) also made a statement that she was not opposed to PCEP, but instead held "serious concerns about the use of taxpayer funds for a project that is tied to high speed rail".<ref name=Slate-Grabar /> ''The Independent'' stated the deferral stood in contradiction to "President Trump's vow to improve American infrastructure, but is consistent with criticisms that he is friendly [with] the oil and gas lobby," going on to note he "is know[n] for his value of loyalty and recoils at criticism," speculating it may have been retaliation for Governor Brown's criticism of his policies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-california-clean-energy-electric-rail-project-caltrain-high-speed-a7593956.html |title=Donald Trump's administration kills funding for California's clean energy electric rail project |author=Garcia, Feliks |date=22 February 2017 |newspaper=The Independent |accessdate=4 April 2017}}</ref>
Secretary Chao heeded the Republican letter's arguments, and deferred the grant in a letter written by FTA Executive Director Matthew Welbes to Caltrain which stated the FTA needed "additional time to complete review of this significant commitment of Federal resources".<ref name="contractextension"/><ref name=SMDJ-170218>{{cite news |url=http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2017-02-18/electrification-funds-in-peril-federal-transit-administration-delays-647-million-caltrain-decision/1776425176103.html |title=Electrification funds in peril: Federal Transit Administration delays $647 million Caltrain decision |author=Weigel, Samantha |date=18 February 2017 |newspaper=San Mateo Daily Journal |accessdate=4 April 2017}}</ref><ref name=SFC-170217>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Trump-administration-deals-a-big-setback-to-10941880.php |title=Trump administration deals a big setback to Caltrain |author1=Matier, Phil |author2=Ross, Andrew |date=17 February 2017 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> Caltrain had expected Secretary Chao to approve the grant and sign the FFGA by March 1, which is normally a ''[[pro forma]]'' step performed after the 30-day comment period for a highly-rated project, and had already awarded construction contracts.<ref name="contractextension"/><ref name="SV">{{citeweb|url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/03/24/trump-chao-get-an-earful-on-caltrain-funds/|title=Trump, Chao get an earful on Caltrain funds from Silicon Valley leaders|publisher=''East Bay Times''|author=Richards, Gary|date=March 24, 2017|accessdate=March 29, 2017}}</ref> [[Balfour Beatty Construction]] and [[Stadler Rail]] had already begun preparations to upgrade the existing tracks and build electrical trainsets, respectively. Caltrain negotiated an emergency four-month contract extension at a potential cost of $20 million.<ref name="contractextension"/><ref name=SFC-170227>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Caltrain-acts-to-keep-electrification-plan-alive-10964012.php |title=Caltrain acts to keep electrification plan alive |author=Cabanatuan, Michael |date=27 February 2017 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref><ref name=BCNC-170227>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/Contractors-Agree-To-3-Month-Deadline-Extension-10963828.php |title=Contractors Agree To 3-Month Deadline Extension With Caltrain On Electrification Project |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=27 February 2017 |newspaper=Bay City News Service |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> Under the preliminary budget proposal released in mid-March 2017, the [[United States Department of Transportation]]'s Capital Investment Grant Program would be eliminated, although projects holding a completed FFGA would continue to be funded.<ref name=SFC-170317 /> Since Secretary Chao had withheld approval of the FFGA for PCEP,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grant-programs/capital-investments/current-capital-investment-grant-cig-projects |title=Current Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Projects |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2017 |publisher=Federal Transit Administration |accessdate=4 April 2017}}</ref> the project's future was questionable.<ref name=SFC-170317 />
In response to the grant deferral, various local officials traveled to [[Washington D.C.]] in order to lobby federal officials to release the money. Editorials in local newspapers urged approval of the grant, including the ''Sacramento Bee'', who called the deferral "a petty attack";<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article140446843.html |title=House Republicans launch a petty attack on a smart rail project |author=Editorial Board |date=24 March 2017 |newspaper=Sacramento Bee |accessdate=28 March 2017}}</ref> and the ''East Bay Times'', a noted CHSRA detractor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/02/24/editorial-feds-should-electrify-caltrain-kill-bullet-train/ |title=Editorial: Feds should electrify Caltrain, kill bullet train |author=Editorial Board |date=24 February 2017 |newspaper=East Bay Times |accessdate=28 March 2017}}</ref> Henry Grabar noted the
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