Smart Growth Around America

This is the latest edition of the Washington Update from Smart Growth America. The Washington Update is a typically policy-heavy newsletter covering federal policy developments here in Washington. If you want to know more about the details of policy and would like to receive this regularly via email, you can sign up for it (and others) here via the SGA website.

We will still offer regular opportunities to weigh in on important legislation, whether or not you choose to get knee deep into the details of policy.

- Stephen Davis
Communications Associate

Senate Passes the FY2010 Transportation and Housing Spending Bill
LEGISLATION MOVES TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

After almost a week of debate over amendments, the Senate approved its $122 billion FY 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill by a vote of 73 to 25. (With the unfortunate acronym of THUD.)

The House approved its version of the bill on July 23 by a vote of 256-168. The discretionary funding levels in the bill vary just slightly between the Senate and House versions, with the Senate spending $67.7 billion and the House providing $68.8 billion. The most significant difference is over spending for high-speed rail and funding for a National Infrastructure Bank. The Administration has made it clear that funding for high-speed rail is a priority issue for them, seeking $1 billion a year for high-speed rail over the next five years.

SGA supports the higher level of funding for high speed rail included in the House bill. There will be a House/Senate conference committee in the coming days to reconcile the two different versions of the bill, giving us more time to weigh in and tell Congress to support the higher funding level for high speed rail.

Send a message to Congress supporting the $4 billion dollar funding for high speed rail with our partners at Transportation for America. Or visit http://www.FourBillion.com today.

These bills also include $150 million for HUD’s new sustainable communities effort, which will largely help fund planning grants to communities and regions. HUD will be releasing a process for the structure and application of those grants sometime after final passage of the appropriations bill.

During the week prior to passage, Senate Republicans offered a number of amendments to the bill in an attempt to strip all earmarked funding. The failed amendments included an amendment from John McCain (R-AZ) to block funding for HUD’s brownfields economic development program and an amendment from Tom Coburn (R-OK) to remove a requirement that states spend 10 percent of their highway and transit cash (only about 2% of all transportation spending) on enhancement projects such as pedestrian and bike paths, safety projects, and scenic and historic highway programs (see vote for Coburn amendment).

And read more details about the Coburn amendment from Transportation for America.

The Senate did pass an amendment offered by Senator Wicker (R-MS) that requires Amtrak to allow passengers to transport guns in their checked luggage or lose federal funding if they fail to comply within 6 months. This language was adopted by a vote of 68-30.

The Senate and House conferees are expected to meet in the next few weeks to work out the differences between the bills. The version approved by the House does not include the amendment related to firearms on Amtrak.

Senate Begins Work on FY2010 Interior-Environment Spending Bill
LEGISLATION INCLUDES FUNDING FOR EPA SMART GROWTH OFFICE

On Thursday, the Senate began debate on the FY 2010 Interior and Environment appropriations bill before completing the Transportation-HUD bill.  Debate on amendments are continuing this week with more votes scheduled for Tuesday. The bill includes $32.1 billion in discretionary spending, which is a $4.5 billion increase over 2009 levels, but slightly less than the $32.3 billion in the House-passed bill and $225 million less than requested by the Administration.

It includes $5.146 million for the EPA smart growth office, as requested by the Administration, and close to Smart Growth America’s request for $6 million. Funding for the EPA smart growth office is not expected to be targeted by amendments, but we will be closely monitoring the debate.

Congress Expected to Address Transportation Authorization with Extension
SAFETEA-LU SET TO EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30

Legislation to reform and fully fund the aging national surface transportation system has been placed on the backburner for much of the summer. House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN), who once spoke strongly against any delay, is now pushing for a 3-month extension. Three Senate bills that were approved by committees before the August recess have been consolidated into one. The Senate bill, which would extend the current transportation law by 18 months and transfer $20 billion into the Highway Trust Fund, is expected to be brought to the floor in the this week.

Rep. Oberstar is hoping to a bring his 3-month extension to the House floor as soon as tomorrow (9/23), according to Streetsblog Capitol Hill.

Some sort of extension will have to pass before the current law expires on September 30, 2009. Although many lawmakers are calling for quick action on this issue, history is not on their side. The last transportation bill in 2005, SAFETEA-LU, was signed into law two years and 12 extensions after its predecessor expired.

Senate Climate Legislation Expected in the Coming Weeks
PRESSURE ON SENATORS NEEDED TO ENSURE FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION

Senator Boxer is expected to release the Senate’s version of comprehensive climate legislation at the end of September. The House passed their version of the climate bill in June, which provides only (up to) 1% of revenues to fund clean, green transportation that can help cut emissions from the transport sector. Action is needed to ensure that the Senate bill dedicates more funding to support planning and green transportation, as in the CLEAN-TEA bill — which allocates 10% of funding for these purposes.

If transportation is responsible for roughly 1/3 of our emissions, it’s logical to steer a share of funds raised from climate legislation towards transportation investments that can help cut emissions and reduce energy use.

TAKE ACTION: Call and email your Senator today and ask them to tell Senator Boxer that significant funding for green transportation is needed to create jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, which makes up about 1/3 of emissions in the U.S. Visit the SGA Advocacy Center for more information and talking points on CLEAN-TEA.

Tags: DOT, EPA, High Speed Rail, HUD, washington update.
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