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THE STATE OF PLAY IN CONGRESS
Margo PedrosoDeputy DirectorSafe Routes to School National Partnership
ATMOSPHERE IN CONGRESS
• Republicans have majority in both House and Senate
• In-fighting among Republicans
• Tea Party/Freedom Caucus vs. mainstream Rs• Compromise and legislate vs. shut down the government
• Speaker Boehner resigned
• Expected successor McCarthy pulled out of the race• Leadership elections in late October?
• Lots to do this fall: appropriations, debt ceiling, transportation bill
APPROPRIATIONS
• Appropriations = annual process to fund government
• Affects agencies like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, parts of US Department of Transportation, etc.
• Boehner resigned as speaker to avoid government shutdown in September
• Only delayed appropriations battle until Dec. 11
• Contention over “sequester” that would mandatecuts to defense and domestic spending
• Republicans found a workaround to avoid defense cuts; Democrats want domestic spending fixed
• Conservatives want to keep spending cuts in place
• Members working on a deal to raise the budget ceiling, mitigating the sequester cuts
APPROPRIATIONS
• Complicated by Planned Parenthood videos
• House using “budget reconciliation” to propose eliminating Obamacare, prevention fund, Planned Parenthood funding
• House voting this month; Senate after that; President expected to veto
• Also have to raise the debt ceiling – country’s borrowing limit
• Likely to be contentious battle in December
TRANSPORTATION
• MAP-21 was last transportation bill, passed in 2012
• Only 2 years in length due to funding shortfall
• Consolidated programs, more state flexibility and less red tape
• Big fight over funding for biking and walking
• Bridges are falling down; can’t afford “niceties” of bike paths…
• We shouldn’t force states to spend money on this...
• Sidewalks and bike paths are a local issue...
• Result was Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
• Consolidated 3 bike/ped programs with 30% cut
• States can transfer 50% of TAP funding
• Regions (MPOs) and states share decision-making
• Requires competitive process
THE NEXT TRANSPORTATION BILL
• Current extension expires October 30
• Highway Trust Fund is broke (still):
Gas tax short $13-18B per yearCongress has to find money to extend billTax reform was supposed to be the answer, but deal has failedUnclear now where funding will come from
• Senate acted in July with DRIVE Act
• House seeking solution
WHAT’S IN THE SENATE’S DRIVE ACT FOR TAP?
• Changes to TAP in DRIVE:
• Nonprofits now eligible to apply for $$• Doubles local control and eliminates state transfers• Lowers regulatory burden for TAP projects• Increases funding from $819M to $850M/year—but freezes it• Sens. Cardin (D-MD) and Cochran (R-MS) were champions
• What did we not get?
• Small MPOs not eligible to apply for $$• More flexibility on the required 20% match to
make projects accessible to low-income• Unfreeze TAP spending level
• All in all – good result for TAP
WHAT’S THE STATUS IN THE HOUSE?
• TAP is again a point of contention, even though:
• At least a half-dozen Republicans on the Committee have asked Chairman Shuster to support TAP
• All Democrats, led by Rep. Larsen (D-WA), have said a bill that changes TAP is not bipartisan
• Small but vocal minority of Tea Party members want TAP eliminated completely
• Goal is that the House leave TAP alone, untouched – no funding or policy changes
HOW WE TALK ABOUT TAP WITH HOUSE REPUBLICANS
• TAP is all about competition and local control
• Money for big cities, small towns and everything in between
• Some of the only federal transportation dollars that make it down to local governments
• Redirecting TAP cuts local projects to fund a few expensive projects in a few districts around country
• States aren’t transferring out – this isn’t a controversial issue at the state/local level
WHAT’S NEXT FOR TAP
• House Committee may mark up bill late October
• Will unresolved House leadership cause delay?
• Could face a vote in committee or on the floor to hurt or help TAP
• Once the House acts
• Then the House and Senate have to reconcile their differences
• Have to work with our supporters to make sure the final bill comes out positive on TAP
HOW YOU CAN HELP
• Let your Members of Congress know that you support the Transportation Alternatives Program
• Speak to your local needs and benefits
• Economic development and property values• Quality of life and transportation options• Safety for kids and families• Cost-effectiveness• Public health
• Come armed with local stories – where these investments are needed or where they have helped
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Margo Pedroso, Safe Routes to School National Partnership
www.saferoutespartnership.org