[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18560]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE ``GREEN ROUTES TO WORK ACT OF 2009''

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 21, 2009

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, Americans have made it clear that they 
want transportation options. In a recent study by the Pew Charitable 
Trusts, 52% of Americans support increased funding for bike, pedestrian 
and public transportation programs. On average, transportation costs 
are now Americans' second largest expense after housing. This impacts 
on business owners, as employees spend over 4.2 billion hours stuck in 
traffic each year--averaging up to almost a week per year per employee. 
If more Americans commute using alternative modes of transportation, we 
will see improvements in the economy, workplace productivity, and 
quality of life.
  In order to help communities provide families with more choices and 
level the playing field for people who want to be less auto-dependent, 
the federal government must be a better partner in these efforts.
  This is why I am introducing the ``Green Routes to Work Act of 
2009,'' which will provide consumers with commuting choices. The bill 
will help companies provide their employees with options, improve 
service to deal with increased demand and ensure that the federal 
government leads by example.
  As gas prices increase, many Americans are already changing their 
daily behaviors to decrease fuel costs: taking fewer trips, keeping 
their cars tuned, even trading in their gas guzzlers for more fuel-
efficient models. Through the incentives in this bill, the federal 
government can support consumers who wish to use environmentally 
friendly, active transportation modes that save them money in the long 
run, such as public transit, carpooling, biking, walking and 
telecommuting.
  For too long, the federal government has supported commuters who 
drove to work, but has not helped those who use other methods of 
transportation. The passage of legislation last year to allow employers 
to provide transportation fringe benefits to bike commuters was a good 
first step. But with a changing climate, expanding waistlines and more 
congested roadways, it's time for the federal government to become more 
aggressive in helping to provide choices. This not only makes 
environmental and public health sense, it makes economic sense: at $4 a 
gallon gasoline, American families can save $5.6 billion each year on 
gasoline costs by using transit. Bicycle commuters annually save an 
average of $1,825 in auto-related costs, conserve 145 gallons of 
gasoline, and avoid 50 hours of gridlock traffic.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation to 
support businesses in their effort to provide choices for commuting 
employees.

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