U.S House Speaker Boehner delays “highway bill” (HR7) vote
By Keith Laing and Russell Berman
02/15/12, 10:00 AM ET
Speaker John Boehner is delaying a vote on the $260 billion transportation bill that was scheduled this week. Boehner (R-Ohio) told his conference Wednesday morning that it was “more important that we do it right than that we do it fast” in explaining his decision, a clear signal GOP leaders lack the votes to win approval of the package.
Read rest of article from The Hill HERE.
The delay is good news for walking and bicycling. If enacted into law, H.R. 7 would eliminate the dedicated federal funding set-aside for walking and bicycling. It would destroy the federal Transportation Enhancements program (“TE”) which, for the last 20 years, has been the main source (51%) of federal funding for walking and bicycling:
Bike Delaware contacted Rep. Carney for a statement on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act (HR7):
Representative John Carney (Delaware): “Although I do not serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am following the progress of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. In December, I joined over one hundred of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in calling for a long-term reauthorization that’s fully paid for and funded at or above current levels. I do not support the elimination of successful programs that would limit Delaware’s ability to improve and expand its infrastructure for all modes of transportation. Strong pedestrian and bicycle networks improve Delawareans’ quality of life and provide a safe way for families to shift to other modes of travel for work, school, and recreation. When these networks are well designed and utilized, we consume less gas, reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, and enjoy healthier lifestyles. No other state in the country is making a more ambitious effort to invest in walking and bicycling than Delaware with its First State Trails and Pathways Initiative. Any surface transportation authorization should, at a bare minimum, provide Delaware with the flexibility to allocate federal transportation funds according to our priorities.“
