Summit Lobby Update

Thanks again for coming to the Summit and for visiting with your Congressional Delegation. This year we’re starting a monthly update for Summit lobby participants to give you a short update on the Summit “asks” to Congress as well as an update on what else is happening on Capitol Hill.

Update on Summit Asks

The PHIT bill

For the Senate version of PHIT, S.2218, in addition to the original four sponsors, Senators Thune (R-SD), Murphy (D-CT), Isakson (R-GA) and Donnelly (D-IN), seven more Senators have sponsored since the National Bike Summit:

• Senator Peters (D-MI)
• Senator Markey (D-MA)
• Senator Barrasso (R-WY)
• Senator Moran (R- KS)
• Senator Baldwin (D-WI)
• Senator Ayotte (R-NH)
• Senator Capito (R-WV)

The House version of PHIT, H.R.1218, has six new co-sponsors, including:

• Rep Keating (D-MA-9)
• Rep Gutierrez (D-IL-4)
• Rep. Gallego (D-AZ-7)
• Rep. Sessions (R-TX-32)
• Rep. Ruppersberger (D-MD-2)
• Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL-5)

TO DO: If you met with one of these lawmakers or their staff, please consider sending an email to thank them.

Safety funding

We are still waiting to hear from the US Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on guidance for the 402/405 program.  Please stay tuned. 

Congressional Bike Caucus

On April 20, The Congressional Bike Caucus will be joining the Congressional Fitness Caucus to host a briefing on the National Physical Activity Plan, including the transportation provisions which correspond to our goals.

If you are sending a follow-up email to a House staffer please also include an invite for them to attend the briefing. Here are the details.

Congressional Briefing on the National Physical Activity Plan

Date: April 20, 2016

Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Location: 209 SVC Capitol Visitors Center

 • Learn about a comprehensive set of policies, programs and initiatives that aim to increase physical activity in all segments of the American population.

What’s next … Congressional update for April

This April, both the House and the Senate will be working on budget and funding questions for fiscal year 2017 (which starts October 1, 2016). Their goal is to agree to funding levels by mid-July when Congress breaks for six weeks of recess.

Transportation is a bit different because most transportation dollars come from the Highway Trust Fund and were secured in the transportation bill. A few transportation programs are not included in the transportation bill including Amtrak, some transit and TIGER. The League will focus our efforts on promoting TIGER in the budget process.

We also will be preparing to play defense.  Even though the transportation bill secures funding for transportation alternatives, members of Congress can still introduce amendments to strip funding for certain uses. (These are called limiting amendment because they limit how that funding is spent.) For instance, in 2011 Senator Paul introduced an amendment to strip funding for Transportation Enhancements.  I’ll keep an eye out and let you know if there is such a threat this year.