[House Report 110-653]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     110-653

======================================================================



 
     RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF BICYCLING IN TRANSPORTATION AND 
                               RECREATION

                                _______
                                

May 19, 2008.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                    [To accompany H. Con. Res. 305]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 305) 
recognizing the importance of bicycling in transportation and 
recreation, having considered the same, report favorably 
thereon without amendment and recommend that the concurrent 
resolution be agreed to.

                       PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Con. Res. 305 recognizes the important role bicycling 
plays in both transportation and recreation. The resolution 
highlights the needs for investing in cycling infrastructure, 
and expresses the support of the Congress for policies that 
encourage cycling as a mode of transportation and recreation.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    H. Con. Res. 305 recognizes the important role bicycling 
plays in both transportation and recreation. This resolution 
highlights the advantages of supporting expanded cycling 
infrastructure and investment, including public health, 
environmental, and economic benefits.
    The resolution expresses the support of Congress for 
policies that: establish target levels for increased bicycle 
usage and decreased vehicle miles traveled; increase 
intermodalism; provide incentives for complete streets 
policies; encourage bicycle usage for short trips; expand 
funding for core Federal transportation programs that support 
nonmotorized transportation; facilitate the development of a 
national bicycle route system; create bicycle-friendly Federal 
lands; provide flexibility for nonmotorized transportation 
project delivery while upholding environmental standards; and 
build upon the ``Green the Capitol'' initiative.
    In 1994, the U.S. Department of Transportation (``DOT'') 
issued the National Bicycling and Walking Study, establishing a 
national goal of doubling the percentage of trips made by foot 
and bicycle while simultaneously reducing crashes involving the 
two modes by ten percent. It also created a now-defunct 
interagency task force to coordinate these efforts across 
Federal agencies. This resolution encourages DOT to re-
establish this task force with representatives from all 
appropriate Federal agencies.

                       SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Con. Res. 305 recognizes the important role bicycling 
plays in both transportation and recreation. The resolution 
highlights the needs for investing in cycling infrastructure, 
and expresses the support of the Congress for policies that 
encourage cycling as a mode of transportation and recreation.

            LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On February 28, 2008, Representative Earl Blumenauer 
introduced H. Con. Res. 305. This resolution has not been 
introduced in a previous Congress.
    On May 15, 2008, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure met in open session to consider the H. Con. Res. 
305. The Committee agreed to the resolution and ordered it 
reported favorably to the House by voice vote.

                              RECORD VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives 
requires each committee report to include the total number of 
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to 
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, 
and the names of those members voting for and against. There 
were no recorded votes taken in connection with ordering H. 
Con. Res. 305 reported. A motion to order H. Con. Res. 305 
reported favorably to the House was agreed to by voice vote 
with a quorum present.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(I) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

                          COST OF LEGISLATION

    Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and 
comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the 
report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is 
included in this report.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee 
references the report of the Congressional Budget Office 
included in the report.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance and 
objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is required.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee has received the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. 
Res. 305 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                      Washington, DC, May 16, 2008.
Hon. James L. Oberstar,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 305, 
recognizing the importance of bicycling in transportation and 
recreation.
    If you wish further details on these estimates, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew 
Pickford.
            Sincerely,
                                         Robert A. Sunshine
                                   (For Peter R. Orszag, Director).
    Enclosure.

H. Con. Res. 305--Recognizing the importance of bicycling in 
        transportation and recreation

    H. Con. Res. 305 would state that the Congress recognizes 
that increased and safe bicycle use for transportation and 
recreation is in the national interest of the United States and 
supports policies that increase bicycle use. Adopting H. Con. 
Res. 305 would result in no cost to the Federal Government.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew 
Pickford. The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine. 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, H. Con. Res. 305 does not contain any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Pursuant to clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or 
joint resolution of a public character shall include a 
statement citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in 
the Constitution to enact the measure. The Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure finds that Congress has the 
authority to enact this measure pursuant to its powers granted 
under article I, section 8 of the Constitution.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal 
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act (Public Law 104-4).

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Con. Res. 305 does 
not preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this 
resolution.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the resolution does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 
104-1).

         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    The concurrent resolution makes no changes to existing law.

                                  
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