[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3290]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          URGING MEMBERS TO JOIN BIKE-PARTISAN BICYCLE CAUCUS

  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, the general election for President is 
basically starting this week. The Democrats have selected their 
nominee. The President is out campaigning. But I hope that we will be 
able this week to take a pause before the action gets too heated to 
deal with the hundreds of volunteers who are visiting Capitol Hill who 
are advocates for bicycling.
  These are people from all over the country, small businesspeople, 
community activists, all here with a message of how activity dealing 
with cycling in America can make our communities healthier, cycling can 
be a dramatic opportunity for economic development for thousands of 
small businesses, and it is, after all, the most efficient form of 
urban transportation ever devised.
  It is an opportunity for us, in a small but important way, to reduce 
our energy dependence on foreign oil from unstable regions, to improve 
air quality, and to reduce the traffic congestion that is costing 
American families dozens of extra hours that they cannot afford every 
month.
  I urge my colleagues to join our bike-partisan Bicycle Caucus; to 
support robust transportation funding that includes things like safe 
routes to school and enhancements; and integrate cycling into your life 
and your community. We will be healthier, happier and the country will 
be better off.

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