Congress Killing Mass Transit Funding

Hours after receiving over 5,000 letters and phone calls from individuals across the country and a letter signed by more than 600 groups from an unbelievably broad spectrum, the House Ways and Means Committee ignored that broad, bipartisan opposition and went full speed ahead with their unprecedented plan to kill dedicated transit funding.

The Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for writing the funding portion of the bill, approved their financing plan along almost party lines this morning, 20-17. (Two GOP reps voted against the bill.)

In a shocking assault on transit that rolls back 30+ years of bipartisan federal transportation policy and reverses a decision made by President Reagan in the 1980’s, House leadership has proposed killing dedicated funding for transit in the Mass Transit Trust Fund. No more guarantee of funding each year and no long-term stability for public transportation. States, cities, communities and their transit systems could lose billions. 

The proposal would take away the 2.86 cents out of the total 18.4 cent motor fuel tax currently directed into the transit account of the Highway Trust Fund and redirect that 2.86 cents into highway spending.  Transit would no longer have a guaranteed and protected funding source, instead becoming subject to yearly appropriations fights and the need to find offsets for funding — all while highway spending continues to be guaranteed with protected funds for half a decade at a time.

In just 12 hours after hearing the initial news, we gathered signatures from more than 600 groups, notable individuals and elected officials. More than 75 national organizations signed the letter.

The committee chose to ignore this broad opposition.

Please call your congressman, especially if they are in the Ways and Means Committee, and Tell your representatives to vote “NO” on H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act.