Resources for Congressional Meetings, February 2011

This page has resources and information for February 2011 in-district meetings with members of Missouri's Congressional Delegation.

General background:

• Summary of the general situation and public statements about proposed cuts to federal bicycle & pedestrian funding
• General plans, background, timeline about proposed budget cutting in Congress

The Alliance for Biking and Walking has an overview of the situation.  Highlights:

• The recently elected House majority is on a cost-cutting spree; they are targeting Transportation among others for large cuts
   
• Transportation needs to be cut 30% to match current highway trust fund income
   
• An effort is underway to vote to take most of the cut by eliminating bike/ped programs
   
• That vote is planned for the week of Feb 28th Feb 14th and is the particular focus of our meetings
   
• There are some myths that still float out there like biking and walking are getting 10% of all transportation dollars (see attachments, below, for fact sheets with accurate info).

The House Schedule is here and a more detailed House Calendar here.  Jan 31-Feb 4 is a 'constituent work week'--so the House members should be in-district during that period.

Files below are a variety of fact sheets, FAQs, discussion points from the national organizations--some of which can be printed out and given to members or staff:

Missouri-specific issue papers (which you can adapt/change as you need):

• Main outline for Missouri meetings: MO Bicycling & Walking Facts, MO Federal Transportation Funding Summary - doc
  • Note that both pages of this handout have District-specific information.  You'll need to update that or simply delete those sections when visiting a different district. Thanks to Brooke Adams for helping draft this resource.
• Missouri's Safe Routes to School federal funding - pdf
• Bicycling & Walking: Where Missouri Stands issue paper - doc
• Complete Streets in Missouri issue paper - doc

Issue papers & fact sheets from National Organizations

• America Bikes Talking Points (doc) - Outline of the points to cover in your congressional meeting
• Inviting A Member of Congress.doc - How to set up the meeting with your member of Congress or their staff; sample meeting request letter
• TE Myths Fact Sheet - pdf
• What is Safe Routes to School one-pager - pdf
• America Bikes FAQ 1-23-11.doc
• Due Dates for Meeting.doc

Information about Missouri projects that rely on this funding:

• Transportation Enhancements projects in Missouri - sorted by Congressional District, county, and other ways
• Safe Routes to School projects in Missouri - all projects that have been awarded grants

Sample letters/meeting requests we have used:

• Meeting request for Sam Graves - doc
• Meeting request for Emanual Cleaver - docs