Climate Change
The transportation sector currently produces 30% of all greenhouse gas emissions. One way to reduce greenhouse gases is to cut back on the number of miles people drive—which is one outcome of the cumulative efforts of Safe Routes to School programs. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership works with a coalition of environmental and smart growth groups to ensure that any climate bill is linked to increasing transportation choices so that more families can safely and easily walk, bicycle, and take public transit.
Latest News and Information:
Climate bill prospects dim
December 15, 2010
In the 111th Congress, a strong climate bill was proposed in both the House and Senate that would have included transportation planning and funding derived from climate revenues. While the House passed its bill, the Senate leadership determined that they did not have the votes to move forward with a comprehensive climate bill. Comprehensive climate legislation will not be taken up by the 111th Congress, and prospects look dim in the next Congress given the new House leadership. However, Senator Boxer, chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee has indicated that she plans to keep focusing on reducing carbon emissions in the coming year through more limited measures.
Partnership supports Kerry-Lieberman climate bill; seeks additional funding
June 8, 2010
Senators Kerry and Lieberman continue to work with Senate leadership to determine a way forward for their climate bill, the American Power Act. Released in late April, the bill includes strong transportation planning provisions that would require states and large MPOs to write plans for reducing greenhouse gases from the transportation sector. It would also dedicate a maximum of $6.25 billion per year to transportation, divided roughly equally between three categories: Future rounds of the DOT TIGER multi-modal competitive grants; Funds to support the transportation emissions planning and resulting "green transportation" projects; and the highway trust fund, with a requirement that any funded projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership joined with America Bikes in a letter to Senators Kerry and Lieberman to praise the policy language on transportation, and the significant increase in funding dedicated to clean, green transportation. However, our coalition made the case that additional transportation funding is needed for investments in sustainable transportation options for Americans. We should know more in June or July about next steps for the American Power Act.
Senate climate bill negotiations break down
May 3, 2010
Finally, the climate bill recently had its momentum thrown to a halt. A bipartisan group of Senators—Senators Kerry (D-MA), Lieberman (I-CT), and Graham (R-SC)—had been negotiating compromise language on a climate and energy security bill. One of the bill’s reported provisions would have directed some climate funds to the transportation sector to help fill the funding shortfall that has been holding up the transportation bill. Shortly before the proposal outline was to be released last week, Senator Graham pulled out of the negotiations over concerns that Senate leadership would move an immigration reform bill before the climate bill. Senators Kerry and Lieberman did go ahead and send their draft proposal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for review. The next month will be critical to see if Senator Graham and Senate leadership can resolve their differences and move forward with Senate consideration of a climate bill.
Alternative climate legislation soon to be released
March 8, 2010
Senators Kerry (D-MA), Lieberman (I-CT), and Graham (R-SC) have been working behind the scenes to develop a bipartisan compromise on a climate and energy security bill. Majority Leader Reid has asked the Senators to release their compromise within the next few weeks in hopes that the Senate could consider climate legislation yet this year. It remains to be seen what will be included in the compromise bill specific to transportation, although it seems likely that there will be some kind of carbon tax on fuels that could be used for green transportation projects or supplementing the highway trust fund.