Speak up for CLEAN-TEA

[FayeforCure]

Speak up for CLEAN-TEA

Support CLEAN-TEA (S. 575) in the U.S. Senate

The Clean Low-Emissions Affordable New Transportation Equity Act (CLEAN-TEA), S. 575, would save Americans money and fund clean transportation alternatives to driving. The bill would set aside 10 percent of the revenue from any climate bill that Congress passes to create a more efficient transportation system through strategies that include more walking and bicycling.

If Congress passes a climate bill that does not adequately fund clean transportation options, we will have missed a crucial opportunity. Cars and light trucks emit about 20 percent of the greenhouse gases generated in the U.S. each year*.

Unfortunately, however, the current U.S. House bill steers a meager one percent of climate revenue to clean transportation.

And finally, the cost savings: just the health care and fuel savings from investing in active transportation result in more than $1,500 in benefits nationally for every ton of emitted CO2 reduced, with tens of millions of reduced tons expected annually. So, the greater the investment, the bigger the return in health care and fuel savings.

Please complete the information below to express your views to your senators. Please personalize your message to ensure it has a strong impact.

Thank you.

https://secure2.convio.net/rtt/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=194

[Captain Zissou]

Sounds like a good cause, but I'm already on the exec board of C.O.F.F.E.E.  Wish I could help

[FayeforCure]

Coffee drinker here too Captain Zissou!

Hope you signed the petition to our Senators Bill Nelson and Lemieux.

Here is an update:

Thousands of RTC Supporters Speak Up for S. 575
U.S. Senate Responds with Increased Funding for Clean Transportation

In early October 2009, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) encouraged online readers to ask their senators to support S. 575, the Clean Low-Emissions Affordable New Transportation Equity Act ("CLEAN-TEA"), which would allocate 10 percent of all revenue from any cap-and-trade bill to promote clean transportation like trails, walking, bicycling and transit. Thousands of you responded, and the U.S. Senate heard your message loud and clear!

Thank you to everyone who took action. For those of you who have not yet asked your senator to support CLEAN-TEA, it's not too late.  Please speak up for clean transportation now.

The draft climate bill in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 2454) takes as its starting point an optional one-percent allocation for clean transportation. But the current U.S. Senate version that you helped influence more than doubles that amount to a set-aside of about 2.5 percent. While much less than the 10 percent we sought in CLEAN-TEA, this shift in allocations is quite a difficult process, and 2.5 percent nonetheless indicates a growing acknowledgement that clean transportation is important to climate policy.

A recent article1 in E&E Daily covering the issue makes the point that this interim progress is a direct result of our collective advocacy work: "The boost in transportation allocations was the result of a strong push from environmental groups, transportation advocates and a group of like-minded lawmakers…"

Thank you, again, for speaking up in support of a more balanced transportation system. There is certainly more work ahead of us as we continue to advocate for funding for clean transportation.

If you have not yet contacted your senators, please do so now. Thank you.

http://www.railstotrails.org/ourWork/advocacy/advocacyCorner/Advocacy_corner_Nov_09_CLEAN-TEA_followup.html

We didn't get the 10% allocation for rail and other CLEAN transportation, but 2.5% instead.

Let's see if we can get the House to up theirs from the usual and pathetic 1% to meet or beat the Senate version!!!