CALIFORNIANS, Call Senator Boxer Today

California Cycling Friends --

Your Senator -- the Honorable Barbara Boxer -- is meeting with U.S. House leaders TODAY to decide the fate of biking and walking programs in Congress.

Will you call Senator Boxer at one of her district offices today and ask her to save local control of federal dollars for biking and walking?

Over the last few years, we?ve seen a few Members of Congress try to block funding for biking and walking again and again. People all over the country have sent emails, made phone calls, and organized events to ensure that Congress protect the funds that make our streets safer and more accessible to everyone.

So far, we have been successful at protecting the federal investments for cycling and walking that make streets safer and more accessible in our communities.

Now, biking and walking programs will be on the line in today's meeting between Senator Boxer and Representative John Mica, the head of the House Transportation Committee.

It?s easy to call Senator Boxer?s office. Choose an office from the list below and use the following suggested talking points.

• Oakland: (510) 286-8537
• Los Angeles: (213) 894-5000
• Sacramento: (916) 448-2787
• San Diego: (619) 239-3884
• Fresno: (559) 497-5109
• Riverside: (951) 684-4849

Suggested script: 
Hi, my name is [name] and I live in [city/town]. With whom am I speaking? 


I?m calling to ask that Senator Boxer maintain the Cardin-Cochran agreement and ensure that Transportation Alternatives not allow states to opt-out of local control over local transportation projects, including biking and walking improvements. The bipartisan Cardin-Cochran agreement in the Senate transportation bill would ensure that local governments can access 1-2% of federal transportation dollars for local projects.


Local officials, who govern closest to the communities they serve, need an opportunity to guide funding for local projects such as biking and walking improvements. It is essential that biking and walking programs not include a state opt-out provision. When the state controls all funding, small, local projects fall between the cracks and local officials lose the opportunity to use transportation funds to address local transportation needs.


Will Senator Boxer preserve the bipartisan Cardin-Cochran agreement and ensure that Transportation Alternatives not allow states to opt-out of local control?

Thank you, my California friends, for standing up for biking and walking at this absolutely pivotal time.


--

JIM SAYER is the executive director of Adventure Cycling Association.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/06/californians-call-senator-boxer-today.html

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