[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23806-23807]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   INCREASED TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT IS A WIN FOR HOUSE EMPLOYEES AND 
                              ENVIRONMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). Under the Speaker's 
announced policy of January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Blumenauer) is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I came to Congress with the notion that 
the Federal Government ought to be a better partner with American 
communities, local governments, business and citizens to help promote 
the livability of these communities, to make our families safe, healthy 
and economically secure.
  One of the examples of where we could in fact make a difference was 
found upon my arrival here in Washington, D.C. Despite the fact that 
the District of Columbia was reputed to have the second worst traffic 
congestion of any metropolitan region in the country, despite concerns 
about congestion, pollution, a lack of parking here on Capitol Hill, 
the House of Representatives provided unlimited free parking for our 
employees, but would not do anything to help those who wanted to use 
mass transit and perhaps be part of the solution, despite the fact that 
we were arguing that the private sector and other governments ought to 
step up and try and help their employees with transit.
  Mr. Speaker, it took an effort of almost 2 years and working with the 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Ehlers), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Moran) we were able to implement a transit benefit 
program for the House employees.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we have moved into a new era of that. 
We have more than tripled the benefit. Starting this month, employees 
will be able to have a $65 transportation benefit for those who do not 
avail themselves of free parking on Capitol Hill; and starting January 
1, they will be able to deduct pretax an additional $35 for a $100 
transit benefit.
  I am extremely grateful, Mr. Speaker, to the leadership of the 
Committee on Administration under the leadership of the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Ney) with the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the 
ranking member, where they stepped up, worked with the committee and 
put in place a program that is going to allow us to provide an 
extensive benefit for our employees; but it also, in a time when we

[[Page 23807]]

are concerned about the energy security of this country, when we are 
deeply concerned about the quality of life in and around our Nation's 
capital, and when we are watching the problems associated with 
increased security every day stack up cars as they are waiting to be 
inspected coming into our House parking lots, this transportation 
benefit is a win for the environment, it is a win for the morale and 
efficiency of employees on the House. It is a win for those who want to 
make sure that Congress leads by example.
  I strongly urge that each office look anew at this enhanced benefit 
program to make sure that each eligible employee takes advantage of it, 
and in fact, that each Member of Congress and their chief of staff 
encourage others to take advantage of it, because it is going to be 
good for them in the long run. We want the program to be a success. It 
is an important step to save money, to save the environment, and make 
Capitol Hill a little more livable.

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