Act Now: Get
TEA 21 Reauthorization to the Senate Floor!
April
8 , 2005
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in Adobe PDF format)
On April 6, APTA staff and other
stakeholders from the transportation community met with leadership of the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public Works, including Chairman James M. Inhofe
(R-OK), Ranking Member James M. Jeffords (I-VT), and Transportation and Infrastructure
Subcommittee Chairman Christopher S. (Kit) Bond (R-MO), and Ranking Member Max
Baucus (D-MT). Senator Baucus, who called the meeting, also addressed the group
in his capacity as the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has
jurisdiction over the tax title of the bill. During the meeting, the Senators
asked for the transportation community's help in getting TEA 21 reauthorization
legislation to the Senate floor this month.
It is critical
for APTA members to contact their Senators and ask them to urge Senate Majority
Leader Frist (R-TN) and other members of the Senate leadership to bring TEA 21
reauthorization legislation (S. 732) to the Senate floor by the end of April.
During floor consideration of the bill, it is expected that an amendment will
be offered to increase the overall funding level in the legislation. APTA and
its coalition partners will be undertaking a range of advocacy activities in support
of that effort.
It is important that the Senate pass its
version of the bill as soon as possible, so that a House/Senate conference committee
can work out differences between the respective bills and send the measure to
the President before the current extension of TEA 21 expires on May 31.
ACTION ALERT! Contact your Senators
immediately. They may be reached through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
Urge them to press the Senate Republican Leadership to schedule floor time for
the TEA 21 reauthorization legislation as soon as possible! Let them know that:
TEA 21 reauthorization has strong, bipartisan support. As
the Senators noted, the bill must be passed soon to take advantage of this year's
construction season. Passage is critical to planning efforts and efficient financing
of projects. A multi-year reauthorization bill boosts the economy
and produces good paying jobs in the U.S. - Transportation stakeholders
in both the transit and highway communities support passage now!
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Thank you for your important efforts! For more information on
TEA 21 reauthorization, please contact Rob Healy at (202) 496-4811 or email rhealy@apta.com.
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