[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 103 (Friday, June 20, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H5776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          COMMUTER ACT OF 2008

  (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KIRK. As gas prices rise, an effective way to offer relief is to 
provide incentives for commuter rail. Commuter rail saves America 4 
million gallons of gas a day and saves each individual commuter over 
$1,600 a year.
  Next week, the Speaker will bring up legislation that will offer only 
Federal employees transit benefits. I support expanding the current 
Federal transit program, and believe that all Americans should have the 
opportunity to have this relief at the pumps.
  A month ago, I introduced bipartisan legislation, the Creating 
Opportunities to Motivate Mass-transit Utilization To Encourage 
Ridership, or the COMMUTER Act of 2008.
  Our legislation offers employers a 50 percent tax credit if they 
provide transit benefits to their employees. According to Forbes 
Magazine, the average gasoline cost in the 10 worst commuter cities is 
over $6 a day. Should businesses take advantage of this, we would lower 
our gas bills, but it should be offered to more than people with a 
Federal job.

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