2009 Transportation Bill (global warming, pollution, climate, energy)

[PurpleLove08]

In 2009, the United States Congress will be due for passage of another 6-year bill authorizing federal transportation spending. The federal transportation bill sets both funding targets and federal transportation policy. Rather than a simple reauthorization of existing policy, the 2009 bill is expected to be a turning point for new policies and funding formulas, in recognition of the urgency of national needs -- obesity prevention, escalating fuel prices, the need for energy independence from Middle East oil, and perhaps most important, the battle against global climate change.

I would strongly urge you to contact your members of Congress and get your voices heard.
My letter to my Congressman and Congresswoman went along these lines:
Dear [their name]:
Next year Congress will renew the six-year transportation bill—a historic juncture and opportunity to create more and better public transportation, which will reduce our dependence on oil, cut global warming pollution and ease traffic congestion.

I encourage you to put our country on a path toward a 21st century transportation system by doubling the portion invested in public transportation in the transportation bill.
The Central Arkansas Transit system is a pretty good system given it's current budget but I know it can be better.
This can save the citizens and visitors of central Arkansas plenty of money that they can use in other places besides sending money to OPEC and further fund terrorists. This can help the air quality in Arkansas and reduce it's CO2 emissions which contribute to global warming.
I strongly encourage you to increase funding for public transportation.

________________________________________________

I think adding a personal touch can go a long way.

If you need to find out who your "representatives" are, this link can help:

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/index.html

Happy writing!!

[bobmulk]

I would strongly urge that they fund alternative energies. Mass transit is inherrently inefficient in that it doesn't go where people want to go, when they want to go there. Especially if you live in the West where everything is spread out, mass transit is a joke--except in the large cities where even there a TINY minority use it.

Face it, freedom of choice and freedom of movement will ALWAYS trump the socialist tendencies of government-induced transportation.