[Education and Welfare] WE need to talk transit with Congress asap.

Sat Feb 11 10:09:04 CST 2012

All,

Folks, we need to call Congress. See the explanation of the transportation funding predicament below my signature, as reported from the Kansas City Regional Area Transit Association. KC, St. Jo, Jeff City, St. Charles, St. Louis, Joplin, Springfield, etc., Congress needs to hear from you on this since the discussion and implement of the below legislation could be next week. Remember, we are advocating on behalf of all blind people and,in this case, folks having other disabilities and limitations as well.

See below my signature.
David Rosenkoetter
Kansas City, MO

 Frankly, Congress needs to hear from you right now!
Greetings!
Dedicated public and mass transit funds are at a severe risk of being eliminated
or hampered to the point of impossible planning for our metropolitan area in Congress
next week.
We need you to weigh in.
Call the Capital Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative!!
Or email your Congressional Representative or Senator.
Here's some background:
SAFETEA-LU - the long time Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation
Equity Act
 that funds highways, highway safety, and public transportation expires yet again
after several extensions on March 31, 2012.
A House of Representatives and a Senate bill are moving on a fast track for a vote
next week that severely limits non-highway modes of transportation.
David Warm, Executive Director of the Mid-America Regional Council sent this analysis
of the two bills.
"American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012 (House Bill)
Areas in support of the interests of the region and its local governments
•        The 5-year bill provides the stability and predictability of a long-term
multi-year authorization
Areas that run counter to the interests of the region and its local governments
•        Shifts resources away from metropolitan areas - metro areas contribute the
most to their states' and the nation's economies
•        Reduces stability and security of transit funding by removing it from the
Highway Trust Fund - transit is a key regional priority providing crucial connections
between the region's employers and workforce
•        Impedes progress for non-highway modes of transportation - a balanced system
of safe and convenient accommodations for walking, biking, transit and highways is
critical for the economy, environment and health of local communities
•        Reduces local government influence by giving states the ability to override
local decisions - this is counter to demonstrated success that's been achieved through
collaborative state-local partnerships
Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act - MAP-21 (Senate Bill)
Areas in support of the interests of the region and its local governments
•        Maintains progress for non-highway modes of transportation - a balanced
system of safe and convenient accommodations for walking, biking, transit and highways
is critical for the economy, environment and health of local communities
•        Incorporates performance-based approach to transportation decisions - consistent
with MARC's own approach to planning and decision-making
Areas that run counter to the interests of the region and its local governments
•        The 2-year bill provides less stability and predictability than a long-term
multi-year authorization - uncertainty limits the effectiveness of long term planning"
The Kansas Public Transit Association has a 21-page detailed document of what's happening
and can be downloaded by clicking
HERE.
Residents of Missouri are represented in Congress by 2 Senators and 9 Representatives.
Member Name
DC Phone
DC FAX
Contact Form
Senator Claire McCaskill (D- MO)
202-224-6154
202-228-6326
http://mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=contact
Senator Roy Blunt (R- MO)
202-224-5721
202-224-8149
http://blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form ...
Representative William Lacy Clay, Jr. (D - 01)
202-225-2406
202-226-3717
http://lacyclay.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=90§ ...
Representative Todd W. Akin (R - 02)
202-225-2561
202-225-2563
https://forms.house.gov/akin/webforms/issue_subscribe ...
Representative Russ Carnahan (D - 03)
202-225-2671
202-225-7452
https://forms.house.gov/carnahan/webforms/issue_subsc ...
Representative Vicky Hartzler (R - 04)
202-225-2876
202-225-0148
https://hartzler.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D - 05)
202-225-4535
202-225-4403
http://www.house.gov/cleaver/IMA/issue.htm
Representative Sam Graves (R - 06)
202-225-7041
202-225-8221
https://gravesforms.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=84& ...
Representative Billy Long (R - 07)
202-225-6536
202-225-5604
https://longforms.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=58&se ...
Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R - 08)
202-225-4404
202-226-0326
https://forms.house.gov/emerson/webforms/contact.html
Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (R - 09)
202-225-2956
202-225-5712
http://blaineluetkemeyer.house.gov/contact/
This Congressional data compilation Copyright © 2012 Congress Merge. All Rights Reserved.
Residents of Kansas are represented in Congress by 2 Senators and 4 Representatives.
Member Name
DC Phone
DC FAX
Contact Form
Senator Pat Roberts (R- KS)
202-224-4774
202-224-3514
http://roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EmailPat
Senator Jerry Moran (R- KS)
202-224-6521
202-228-6966
http://moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-jerry
Representative Tim Huelskamp (R - 01)
202-225-2715
202-225-5124
https://forms.house.gov/huelskamp/webforms/zipauthen_ ...
Representative Lynn Jenkins (R - 02)
202-225-6601
202-225-7986
http://lynnjenkins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=209& ...
Representative Kevin Yoder (R - 03)
202-225-2865
202-225-2807
https://yoderforms.house.gov/email-me
Representative Mike Pompeo (R - 04)
202-225-6216
202-225-3489
https://pompeo.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
This Congressional data compilation Copyright © 2012 Congress Merge. All Rights Reserved.
The Kansas City Metropolitan area is on the cusp of a regional mass transit system
that includes all modes of transit for riders of choice, riders dependent on transit,
the employees who can't reach your business, cyclists, trail walkers, and others.
Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance
www.kcrta.org
email.jsp?m=1103211060902

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