[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1867-E1868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ON THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TRANSIT PARITY ACT OF 2013

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 12, 2013

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Transit Parity Act of 
2013. The bill will extend federal tax benefits for mass transit and 
parking at current levels for one year. There is currently a permanent 
provision providing federal tax benefits for parking and mass transit; 
however, the mass transit benefit is funded at half the level of the 
parking benefit. The mass transit benefit was temporarily raised this 
year, but with cuts to the mass transit benefit set to occur on January 
1, 2014, impacts will be felt throughout this region and the country.
  Millions of people commute in and out of cities every day, bolstering 
their economies and improving the overall wellbeing of the country, 
with this region as a prime example. Why would we want to encourage 
people to drive rather than use mass transit? At the very least, there 
is no excuse for preferential treatment of driving.
  I support a permanent equalization of commuter benefits, but given 
the costs associated with a permanent extension, the focus of this bill 
is a temporary one-year extension of benefits. I will seek to bring 
this bill to the floor before Congress adjourns for the year. If the 
bill is not passed before then, I will seek retroactive equalization of 
benefits.
  The bill will continue to encourage commuters to use mass transit by 
equalizing tax

[[Page E1868]]

benefits for mass transit and parking. Congress did the sensible thing 
when it increased the commuter benefit cap to $245 per month, the same 
as for parking earlier this year. Unless Congress takes action now, 
however, mass transit benefits will decrease by nearly 50 percent, to 
$130, while the benefit for parking will increase to $250. However, 
this bill makes federal tax benefits for mass transit and parking equal 
at $250 in 2014. I support a permanent equalization of commuter 
benefits, but given the costs associated with a permanent extension, 
the focus of this bill is on a one-year extension of equal benefits.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

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