This is the time to do a *massive* upgrade to US infrastructure. Seriously, there should be a billion men rebuilding those railroad tracks to last 100 years.
That is a very good idea; a decent modern railway for commuting and freight would really be good for the USA.
Plus it would be an investment, not just giving money away, but using money for a long-term benefit, creating work and building a new infrastructure asset.
Far too smart an idea for anyone to actually do it, though.