Last Chance to Take Action



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Ken Kramer

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SAVE THE TRAILS!

RTC Members Urged to Call Congress Before September 4

Monday, September 1, 2003

Dear RTC Member:

In a surprise move, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee voted to eliminate funding for
Transportation Enhancements (TE) - the largest source of funding for trails and other
bicycle/pedestrian facilities. The next step is a vote by the full House of Representatives,
scheduled for Thursday morning, September 4. As an RTC member, we need your help to save
Enhancements!

Thanks to TE, America's communities enjoy over 17,000 small-scale, locally initiated transportation
projects that promote health, safety, economic development and community pride. From rail-trails and
sidewalks, to wildlife crossings and train station restorations, TE projects allow communities to
make transportation investment decisions that greatly enhance their quality of life. Amazingly, we
achieve all this at a cost of about one and a half cents per federal surface transportation dollar.

But the FY04 transportation appropriations bill (H.R. 2989) would eliminate all TE funding, while
increasing highway spending by $4.5 billion more than the President even requested!

RTC is fighting back and finding supporters in Congress. Reps. Tom Petri (R-WI), John Olver (D-MA)
and others are leading a bipartisan effort to restore Enhancements when the bill reaches the House
floor. On September 4, every vote will count!

Please take a moment on Tuesday or Wednesday and call your Representative in Washington, DC.
Urge them to:

"Save Transportation Enhancements

by voting for the Petri-Olver amendment

to strike Section 114 from the

transportation appropriations bill - H.R. 2989."

Congressional offices track phone calls from constituents - your call can make a difference. This
is a crucial moment, but with your help, our vision of America's communities - networks of
trails, walkable neighborhoods, children bicycling to school - will win out. Thank you for your
continued support!

--For more details, including information on what the TE program has accomplished in your state,
visit our Web site at: www.railtrails.org/whatwedo/policy/tea21b.asp

--To find your U.S. Representative, just enter your zip code at: www.house.gov

You are receiving this message because, as a member of RTC, you provided your e-mail address in
order to receive important notices. Please feel free to forward this message to others who may be
interested. If you no longer wish to receive these e-mails, please reply to this message with the
word 'unsubscribe' in the subject line.
 
"Ken Kramer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> SAVE THE TRAILS!
>
> RTC Members Urged to Call Congress Before September 4
>

From the RTC Web Site:

U.S. HOUSE VOTES TO RESTORE TRAIL FUNDING September 4, 2003 -- The U.S. House of Representatives
today voted overwhelmingly (327 to 90) to restore funding to the Transportation Enhancements (TE)
program, which provides money for bicycle and pedestrian trails, sidewalks, scenic beautification
and historic preservation. The vote was in response to an unpopular July 24 House Appropriations
Committee decision to eliminate funding for Transportation Enhancements while increasing highway
spending by $4.5 billion more. Under current law, the federal government provides approximately $600
million annually for Transportation Enhancements (TE) activities, with 55% of that amount funding
trail, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

"Congress has shown that it values the health and safety of Americans more than throwing even more
money toward highway interests," said Keith Laughlin, president of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. "We
are especially grateful to Representatives Petri (R-Wis.) and Olver (D-Mass.) for garnering support
for Transportation Enhancements among their colleagues by offering the Petri-Olver Amendment. Its
passage will help guarantee a balanced transportation system yielding environmental, economic and
health benefits for communities."
 
YeeeeeeeeeeHAaaaaaa!!!!!

Congratulations to us. Maybe it isn't such a bad world after all!

--
Low-Impact Rides In The LI/NY Area www.geocities.com/NYRides "Bob Kastigar" <[email protected]>
wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> "Ken Kramer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > SAVE THE TRAILS!
> >
> > RTC Members Urged to Call Congress Before September 4
> >
>
> From the RTC Web Site:
>
> U.S. HOUSE VOTES TO RESTORE TRAIL FUNDING September 4, 2003 -- The U.S. House of Representatives
> today voted overwhelmingly (327 to 90) to restore funding to the Transportation Enhancements (TE)
> program, which provides money for bicycle and pedestrian trails, sidewalks, scenic beautification
> and historic preservation. The vote was in response to an unpopular July 24 House Appropriations
> Committee decision to eliminate funding for Transportation Enhancements while increasing highway
> spending by $4.5 billion more. Under current law, the federal government provides approximately
> $600 million annually for Transportation Enhancements (TE) activities, with 55% of that amount
> funding trail, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
>
> "Congress has shown that it values the health and safety of Americans more than throwing even more
> money toward highway interests," said Keith Laughlin, president of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
> "We are especially grateful to Representatives Petri (R-Wis.) and Olver (D-Mass.) for garnering
> support for Transportation Enhancements among their colleagues by offering the Petri-Olver
> Amendment. Its passage will help guarantee a balanced transportation system yielding
> environmental, economic and health benefits for communities."
 
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