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HOUSE TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE INTRODUCES $375 BILLION HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT BILL
BACKGROUND
Today the bipartisan leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee officially introduced a six-year bill to reauthorize the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The legislation, titled “The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users,” (H.R. 3550) would provide a total of $375 billion in new funding for the nation’s surface transportation programs -- a 72 percent increase over the total funding for TEA-21 (1998-2003), and a 52 percent increase over the total funding proposed in the administration’s SAFETEA reauthorization bill.
In addition, H.R. 3550 will help create 1.7 million new jobs by 2009. The legislation will also increase the minimum guaranteed percentage of return to each state from federal highway programs from 90.5 percent to 95.0 percent by 2009.
ACTION NEEDED
Please contact your legislators today and urge them to support this legislation that will provide increased investment in the transportation systems of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It is critical for Congress to pass a long-term bill that addresses the growing highway and transit investment needs before the short-term extension to TEA-21 expires on February 29, 2004.
Congress needs to hear from CMAA members immediately. Take Action Now by visiting the “Write Your Representative” website at http://www.house.gov/writerep/. This service will assist you by identifying your Congressperson in the U.S. House of Representatives and providing contact information. Simply select the state you live in, enter your ZIP code and your 4-digit ZIP code extension and then click on the “Contact My Representative” button. It’s that simple! So don’t delay and act now!
If you prefer to contact your lawmakers by telephone, you can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be transferred to your Representative’s office. If the member of Congress is not available, ask to speak to the staff person who handles transportation issues.
For your convenience, we have attached a sample letter for you to use in your correspondence to your Representative. Please feel free to modify as you see fit. Should you have additional questions or comments, please contact CMAA's Government Affairs Director Elizabeth Aronson at earonson@cmaanet.org.
Thank you for your support!
SAMPLE LETTER
November 20, 2003
The Honorable Tom Davis
U.S. House of Representative
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Davis:
As a constituent in your district and one of the more than 2,000 members of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), I am writing to urge your support for H.R. 3550, “The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users,” which was recently introduced by the bipartisan leadership of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.
The $375 billion, six-year bill would benefit every state in the nation by ensuring that all states receive a guaranteed 95% minimum percentage return from highway formula programs. In addition, this increased investment in highway and transit funding would give a major boost to our nation’s economy by helping to create more than 1.7 million jobs over the next six years. It also would help improve the one-third of America’s roads, bridges, transit vehicles and facilities that are in poor condition.
America’s congestion and safety crisis will not just go away. It must be dealt with immediately. Please support H.R. 3550 today. By doing so, you will play a major role in moving our aging and crumbling transportation system into the 21st century. Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Joe/Jill Smith
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