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Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) is developing a new climate change bill and plans to introduce it after Congress returns in September. The U.S. House of Representatives approved its version of a climate bill, the “American Clean Energy and Security Act” (H.R. 2454, “Waxman-Markey” or “ACES”) on June 26. The House-passed bill makes transit a limited eligible expense under a state energy grant program, but it fails to provide guaranteed transit investment. APTA members need to contact their Senators to discuss climate legislation. Under a pending proposal known as CLEAN-TEA (which is described below), the Senate climate bill would allocate 10 percent of the Senate bill’s emission allowances for new investment in transit and other strategies that reduce vehicular emissions. A 10 percent allocation would be worth approximately $10 billion annually.

In preparation for Senate action, APTA has developed a new policy paper and set of recommendations for the climate bill. The paper summarizes the contributions of public transportation to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the revenue implications of a cap-and-trade program and important details regarding the House passed climate bill. The transportation sector produces one-third of carbon-dioxide emissions in the United States, and transportation is responsible for approximately 70 percent of U.S. oil consumption, but transit is eligible for less than $1 billion a year of allowance revenue under the Waxman-Markey legislation passed by the House. This level of funding is not acceptable given that the sale of emission allowances from fuel consumed for road and highway use will generate more than $22 billion annually by 2015, according to EPA estimates.

APTA is working closely with several Senators on the EPW Committee to increase the level of transit investment in the new climate bill. Last year’s Senate bill (“Lieberman-Warner”) would have provided up to 2.75 percent of emission allowances for transit, worth an estimated $3 billion in new annual funding. Inpreparation for a committee markup, Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have joined Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Arlen Specter (DPA) as co-sponsors of S.575, the Clean Low-Emissions Affordable New Transportation Equity Act (CLEANTEA). If added to the climate bill, CLEAN-TEA would set aside 10 percent of emission allowances for transportation investment and institute comprehensive transportation planning efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A 10 percent allocation of emission allowances could be worth approximately $10 billion annually under the ACES cap-and-trade program. APTA supports CLEAN-TEA and urges members to ask their Senators to support of transit investment.

For APTA's Policy paper and recommendations for climate legislation in the U.S. Senate, click here.

Summary of APTA Recommendations

Recommendation #1: Climate change legislation must provide substantial new investment in public transportation and high-speed and intercity passenger rail that supplements existing federal  transportation funding.

Recommendation #2: Include the “Clean, Low-Emission, Affordable, New Transportation Efficiency Act” (CLEAN-TEA, S. 575) within the Senate climate bill.

In support of CLEAN-TEA, APTA has prepared an analysis of the potential emissions reductions from dedicating 10 percent of emission allowances to surface transportation investment. Current research indicates that CLEAN-TEA could reduce on-road emissions by up to 14 percent under a climate bill. To view the analysis, click here.

Recommendation #3: Establish dedicated formula funding for public transportation that promotes energy efficiency in transit operations, expands levels of service, and prevents service reductions related to a cap-and trade program.

APTA has developed a concept program to show how formula funds could assist agencies with reducing energy cost and expanding emissions savings from transit service. To view the concept program, click here.

ACTION ALERT and SAMPLE LETTER:

APTA members need to contact their Senators, particularly members of the Committee on Environment andPublic Works and the Committee on Finance. When you talk to your Senators, please ask the following:

• Urge the Senator or their staff to contact Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) of the Environment and Public Works Committee and other Senate leaders to express support for transit investment in a Senate climate bill.
• Explain that transit investment will bring climate revenues back to your state and will accelerate emission reductions from the transportation sector.
• State support for transit formula funding within the climate bill and offer examples of how funding could improve transit service in your community (e.g. new hybrid or alternative fuel buses could expand service and reduce operating costs).
• Ask your Senator to co-sponsor CLEAN-TEA (S. 575) which would set-aside up to 10 percent of emission allowances for transportation investments, including transit.

A sample letter for your use is provided below:

For additional information on climate legislation, please contact Homer Carlisle of APTA’s Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4810 or hcarlisle@apta.com.