UPDATE: Amendment 2370 was withdrawn, and Amendment 2371 was defeated (see comments)!!!
Your voice is urgently needed. The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on eliminating walking and biking funds TODAY, September 16.
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy learned yesterday that Senators Tom Coburn (Okla.) and John McCain (Ariz.) have issued amendments to the FY10 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. Their changes specifically attack funding for rail-trails, bicycling and walking.
Please take a minute right now to call your senator and ask him or her to vote against Amendments 2370 and 2371 to H.R. 3288.
Amendment 2370 would prohibit the use of federal funds for pedestrian or bicycle facilities, efforts to reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife, or other specified Transportation Enhancement (TE) projects if the Highway Trust Fund cannot cover unfunded highway authorizations.
Amendment 2371 would allow states to eliminate spending on TE, the nation’s largest funding source for trails, walking and bicycling. Congress currently sets aside a portion of federal funds for TE to support these projects in all states.
This is truly an all-hands-on-deck moment. Please act now—call your senator and ask him or her to vote against the proposed amendments. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Announcement has instructions for how to contact your Senator.
