On June 15, 2011, Chairman John Mica announced that a surface transportation reauthorization bill will be rolled out in early July and moved through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives on July 12.  Members of the committee will likely describe the bill and answer questions in a webcast once it is rolled out.  Next week, the committee will consider one particular portion of the bill, specific to increasing the private sector’s role in Amtrak.  A press release from Mica and U.S. Rep Bill Shuster contains a set of principles, including a proposal for the full privatization of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor via a 99 year long term lease agreement.