WASHINGTON, JUNE 11 – A diverse coalition of over 140 major national, state, and local organizations have rallied behind an effort by three House members and two Senators to transform transportation policy by increasing use of public transit, passenger rail and non-motorized transportation, and by reducing the amount that Americans need to drive.
In a letter sent to members of Congress on June 11, leading transportation stakeholders, environmental, progressive, and conservative institutions, including the Free Congress Foundation, expressed support for the National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009, which establishes overarching goals for the federal surface transportation program.
“There is major support across regions and political parties for a more energy-efficient system that focuses on national priorities rather than the usual politics of Congressional trophy-spending,” said John Krieger, Staff Attorney for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, one of the organizations that spear-headed the coalition initiative.
Representatives Holt, Inslee, and Carnahan introduced HR. 2724 earlier this week as companion legislation to S. 1036, which is sponsored by Senators Lautenberg and Rockefeller.
The two bills are designed as benchmarks for the upcoming federal transportation authorization bill, which will determine the course of federal transportation policy for the next six years.
The 143 groups have rallied behind the legislation’s goals to reduce surface transportation-generated carbon dioxide by 40 percent by 2030, and to reduce national per capita motor vehicle miles traveled on an annual basis, reducing America’s dependence on oil.
Transportation is responsible for one-third of U.S. global warming pollution and nearly two-thirds of domestic oil consumption.
For more on U.S. PIRG’s transportation program, and to download a copy of the House letter, please click here.
For details on the Senate letter, please click here.
HR2724-letter-FINAL.pdf