Legislative Alerts

Climate Change Legislation to be Considered in the House

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) are introducing a new climate change bill that proposes a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent before 2020 and 85 percent by 2050.  The current timeline is for the bill to be brought before the committee by mid-May and then to the House floor later that month.  The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will begin development of a new climate bill as well in the coming months, with Senate floor debate possibly scheduled for this summer.

Complete Streets Act of 2009 Introduced in U.S. Congress

Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Tom Carper (D-DE) introduced the Complete Streets Act of 2009 into the US Senate (S. 584) last week.  The same day, Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA), joined by original co-sponsors Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), and Rep. David Wu (D-OR) introduced the same legislation in the House of Representatives (H.R. 1443).  The goal of these bills is to promote the safety of all users, including drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders, when implementing federally-funded transportation infrastructure projects.

U.S. Senate to consider the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The U.S. Senate has begun debate on its version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The legislation currently contains $8.4 billion for public transportation through existing formula programs, and an additional $5.5 billion is provided for a multi-modal discretionary grant program for states and local governments for highway, transit and other surface transportation projects of national or regional significance.

House to consider Economic Recovery bill;  pending amendment would add $3 billion for transit.

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to debate the economic recovery bill on Wednesday, 1/28.  An amendment will be offered to increase transit funding from $9 billion to $12 billion.  The amendment is sponsored by Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Peter DeFazio (D-OR),  Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Steve Ellison (D-MN) and Michael McMahon (D-NY).  The amendment would appropriate an additional $1.5 billion for transit formula funding and $1.5 billion for the New Starts program. 

U.S. Senate to consider the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The U.S. Senate has begun debate on its version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The legislation currently contains $8.4 billion for public transportation through existing formula programs, and an additional $5.5 billion is provided for a multi-modal discretionary grant program for states and local governments for highway, transit and other surface transportation projects of national or regional significance.

Several amendments are expected on the Senate floor to boost spending for transportation infrastructure, or change the way funds are distributed.  An amendment offered by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA) to increase funding for the infrastructure provisions of the bill, including the transit program provisions was defeated in a procedural vote.  Specifically, the amendment sought to add $5 billion for public transportation, $13 billion for highway programs, as well as additional funding for water and sewer grants. 

Despite this early defeat, additional amendments may reach the Senate floor as early as tomorrow that would increase investments in public transportation.

House to consider Economic Recovery bill;  pending amendment would add $3 billion for transit.

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to debate the economic recovery bill on Wednesday, 1/28.  An amendment will be offered to increase transit funding from $9 billion to $12 billion.  The amendment is sponsored by Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Peter DeFazio (D-OR),  Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Steve Ellison (D-MN) and Michael McMahon (D-NY).  The amendment would appropriate an additional $1.5 billion for transit formula funding and $1.5 billion for the New Starts program. 

Current transit spending in the American Economic Recovery and Investment Act (H.R. 1):
$6 billion - urban and rural transit formula, Sec. 5307 and 5311
$2 billion - fixed-guideway modernization formula, Sec. 5309
$1 billion - New Starts program, Sec. 5309

Transit investment under the Nadler/DeFazio/Lipinski/Ellison/McMahon
amendment:
$7.5 billion - urban and rural transit formula, Sec. 5307 and 5311
$2 billion - fixed-guideway modernization formula, Sec. 5309
$2.5 billion - New Starts program, Sec. 5309