Crunch Time: Fate of Federal Funding Could Rest with Sen. Boxer and 12 Reps

Depending on who you listen to the effort to get a new long term transportation bill is either stalling out or discussions are on-going and deals are being made on some issues — including local control over bicycle and pedestrian spending.

In fact, both of these things could be true.  Even if the negotiations stall for now, whatever deals are made will most likely carry over to when Congress picks up negotiations again. That’s why it’s critical that we make sure that the bipartisan Cardin-Cochran agreement, which ensures local control over bicycling and walking funds, remains in the bill.

Both our supporters and our critics need to hear from us that bicycling funding and the Cardin-Cochran must be preserved. But here’s where it gets tricky — the key players have been narrowed. The fate of bicycling funds and Cardin-Cochran comes down to just a handful of well-positioned legislators. They need to hear from their constituents today.

We need you in California!

Biking and walking programs will be on the line in today’s meeting between Senator Barbara Boxer and Representative John Mica (R-FL). California residents, please call — yes, CALL — Senator Barbara Boxer today to urge her to preserve the Cardin-Cochran agreement. We are targeting home offices today (not DC offices). You can follow this link to enter your zip code and find the number for the district office. Please share the link with your friends.

If you are a Twitter user, you can also Tweet her at @SenatorBoxer. Here is a sample tweet you can use: “.@SenatorBoxer, please don’t let states opt out of local control over biking & walking funds #keepbikefunding!” Please note that that period at the beginning is not a typo. That keeps the message from being a direct message, so that everyone on Twitter can see it.

We need you in these Congressional Districts!

Rep. Don Young (R-AK-AL)
Rep. Steve Southerland (R-FL-2)
Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN-8)
Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY-24)
Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH-12)
Rep. James Lankford (R-OK-5)
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA-9)
Rep. John Duncan (R-TN-2)
Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX-4)
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-3)
Rep. Reid Ribble (R-WI-8)
Rep. Shelley Capito (R-WV-2)

If you vote in one of these Congressional Districts, please call your representative’s home office today. If you are not sure if that’s your district, you can enter your zip code to check.

The representatives listed above are the ones in a position to attack or preserve the careful Cardin-Cochran compromise. They might think no one cares about bicycling in their district. Let’s prove them wrong! Please call today.

Thank you all for your continued support. We have only made it this far because of the sustained chorus of support from people like you who care about bicycling. This is a key moment to keep it going.