TEA-21 reauthorization getting lively

The United States Senate began floor debate last week on their version of the bill, after a 94-6 cloture vote to proceed to consideration of the bill. However, work will not be finished on the bill until after next week's recess.

The most anticipated amendment, because it could stall the whole process, by Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman and Ranking member of the Finance Committee, respectively, to increase the funding amount for the highway and transit programs, will not be offered until the week of May 9. The amendment is expected to increase the total funding level somewhere between $8 billion and $16 billion. Grassley and Baucus have made it clear that any increase in funding would be paid for by savings in other areas and therefore deficit neutral.

Earlier last week, the Bush Administration issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) reiterating its opposition to a funding level of more than $283.9 billion, the amount approved by the House of Representatives in March. View the SAP here.

The America Bikes team is on edge as these high-profile battles ensue, not only to preserve what we have won in the two versions of the bill over the last three years (yes, three years!), but because of a recent opportunity presented by a brave senator from Iowa. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced his Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2005 (S. 794) on April 14th without fanfare. S. 794, the Safe and Complete Streets Act is a stand-alone bill meant to be incorporated into the reauthorization of TEA-21. It contains three key provisions:

• Nonmotorized Transportation Safety, including a requirement for state transportation departments to adopt a complete streets policy [though it does not specify language]
  
• Safe Routes to School, which adopts the [higher] funding levels and policy language from the House reauthorization bill, and
  
• Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, also taken directly from the House bill.

Sources say he may be preparing for a floor battle amidst the other amendments. Please keep your ears on as Senate action resumes the week of May 9th. The America Bikes team may be calling on several of you in key states to assist in strategic ways. Find more info on recent reauthorization events as well as the Harkin bill at: www.americabikes.org.