[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4639]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      FEDERAL TRANSIT BENEFITS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 14, 2005

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the 
Federal Transit Benefit Act. This legislation codifies Executive Order 
#13150 that directed all executive branch agencies to provide their 
employees in the national capital region with the full tax-free transit 
benefit provided under current law.
  Initially the benefit was set at $65 per month, but increased to $100 
per month beginning in January 2002.
  Give up your car and parking spot and you can receive a voucher to 
cover a portion of your transit or van pool cost commuting to work. The 
benefit has been a godsend to this region, helping to reduce traffic 
congestion, reduce air pollution and improve quality of life issues for 
Federal employees.
  The Metropolitan Washington Council of Government estimates that this 
benefit has boosted ridership in transit services and van pools by more 
than 100,000 Federal employees and reduced vehicle miles traveled 
between 40 million and 54 million.
  The legislation I am introducing today will extend this benefit to 
the other branches of the Federal Government, the legislative and 
judicial branches, all independent Federal agencies, postal workers and 
the Smithsonian that were not covered by the executive order.
  I have long sought to maintain parity in salaries and benefits for 
all Federal workers. This legislation restores parity ensuring that 
those Federal agencies that don't currently provide this benefit for 
their employees will do so.
  The legislation will also remove current law restrictions and enable 
Federal agencies to offer their employees shuttle services between 
their office and transit centers like Metro, MARC, and Virginia Railway 
Express. Under current law, Federal agencies are prohibited from 
providing shuttle services to their employees if it is not a part of 
official business.
  The Federal Government is the region's largest employer. As such, it 
can and should do more to help its employees cope with some of the 
Nation's worst traffic congestion and in doing so help reduce harmful 
automobile emissions that have pushed this region into severe 
nonattainment.
  This legislation was unanimously approved by the House Government 
Reform Committee last session. Its need is long overdue.

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