[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 61 (Friday, May 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE PROVIDING GAS PRICE RELIEF THROUGH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 
                                  2011

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 6, 2011

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker with gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon in 
much of the country, American families need real action, not 
meaningless gestures, to help deal with skyrocketing transportation 
costs. As gas prices continue to rise, people are increasingly turning 
to mass transit, yet high fuel prices coupled with cuts in local 
funding have forced nearly 60% of transit agencies nationwide to reduce 
service or raise fares in recent years. The Republican Budget for 
Fiscal Year 2012 would make matters worse by making significant cuts in 
transit funding which will result in more fare hikes, more service 
cuts, and more pain for American commuters and families.
  In response, I am introducing the Providing Gas Price Relief Through 
Public Transportation Act of 2011 today. This legislation will provide 
support to struggling and increasingly overwhelmed transit agencies to 
allow them to maintain service and keep fares low. It ensures that 
people will have an affordable alternative to driving, and it helps 
those who need it most.
  The bill authorizes $1.7 billion over two years of additional capital 
and operating funds for transit agencies to reduce fares and expand 
transit services. It would increase the Federal share for clean fuel 
and alternative fuel transit bus, ferry, or locomotive-related 
equipment and facilities from 90 percent to 100 percent. The bill would 
extend transit benefits to all Federal employees. And the bill would 
establish a two-year vanpool pilot program. Similar legislation was 
passed by the House in 2008 by a vote of 322-98.
  I am pleased to have Representatives Hirono, Filner, Larsen, Nadler, 
Bishop, Boswell, Cummings, Richardson, Quigley, and Lipinski join me as 
original cosponsors of the bill. I am also pleased to have the support 
of a number of transit stakeholders including the American Public 
Transportation Association (AFTP), Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), 
Transportation for America, Association for Commuter Transportation, 
VPSI, Inc., and AVEGO.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important 
legislation.

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