Three federal programs critical to walking and biking, Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails Program, are being targeted for elimination as the transportation bill is being written in the House and Senate committees.
House Transportation Chairman John Mica (R-FL) announced yesterday that his transportation bill will eliminate dedicated funding for bicycling and walking, including Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program, and discourage states from choosing to spend their dollars on these activities that are “not in the federal interest.”
Things on the Senate side are not much better. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Republican negotiator on the transportation bill, declared that one of his TOP THREE priorities for the transportation bill is toeliminate ‘frivolous spending for bike trails.’
U.S Senators serve all Texas citizens. Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is on the Senate Transportation Committee and is past chair of the Senate Bicycle Caucus. Senator Hutchison has been a champion for Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements in the past. Contacting Senator Hutchison is the highest priority.
Senator John Cornyn is the other Senator representing Texas in Washington. A message to Senator Cornyn will also help.
Action: Ask Senator Hutchison to continue her support for biking and walking by preventing this gutting of these programs.
Phone: 202-224-5922
Email: Click here
Phone: 202-224-2934
Email: Click here
U.S. House of Representatives: What you can do
Representatives Blake Farenthold (R-Corpus Christi) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Dallas) both sit on the House Transportation Committee. It is the highest priority that they hear from their constituents asking them not to cut these vital programs.
BikeTexas has met with Rep. Farenthold several times and he has pledged to support continued funding for Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School, and Rec Trails. As a Republican member of a majority Republican committee, Rep. Farenthold will have the most influence with Chairman Mica. Rep. E.B. Johnson has always been a reliable supporter of these three programs, please thank her and ask her to continue her support.
Action: Click here to find out who your U.S. House Representative is. If you are a constituent of Blake Farenthold or Eddie Bernice Johnson, ask them to pledge support to prevent gutting of these programs.
Congressman Blake Farenthold (R-Corpus Christi)
Phone: 202-225-7742
Email: Click here
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Dallas)
Phone: 202-225-8885
Email: Click here
If you are represented by any other congressperson, use this link to find his or her contact information. Ask your Representative to talk with a colleague serving on the House Congressional Transportation Committee with whom they have a relationship, to urge them to keep these important programs.
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Before writing or calling, please review our general guidelines for writing your representatives. Some specific points we suggest you make for a letter or phone call are:
- Properly address your representative (see our general guidelines) Identify yourself as a constituent (e.g. “I’m a voter in District 4”, or “I live in your district.”)
- Briefly state your background and any relevant affiliations (e.g., I’m a city official/engineer/PTA member/parent and a member of BikeTexas)
- State that these programs are important to you and why in a short sentence or two. Make it personal to your experience. See our FAQ’s for ideas.
- Ask that your representative OPPOSE cuts in these programs. Making a specific request is key. You might ask it as a question, e.g. “Will you oppose elimination of Bike-Ped funding?”
- Be polite. You might thank them for their public service.
For more information, contact BikeTexas at 512-476-7433.
