Call Your US Senators - NOW

Your voice is urgently needed. The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on eliminating walking and biking funds today, September 16.

Late yesterday, The Rails-To-Trails Conservancy received word that Senators Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) just issued amendments to the FY10 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. Their changes specifically attack funding for rail-trails, bicycling and walking.

Please take a minute right now to call your senators and ask them vote against Amendments 2370 and 2371 to H.R. 3288.

Amendment 2370 would prohibit the use of federal funds for pedestrian or bicycle facilities, efforts to reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife, or other specified Transportation Enhancement (TE) projects if the Highway Trust Fund cannot cover unfunded highway authorizations.

Amendment 2371 would allow states to eliminate spending on TE, the nation’s largest funding source for trails, walking and bicycling. Congress currently sets aside a portion of federal funds for TE to support these projects in all states.

This is truly an all-hands-on-deck moments. Please act now—call your senators and ask them to vote against the proposed amendments.

Here are the phone numbers for Ohio's US Senators:

• Sherrod Brown 202-224-2315
• George Voinovich 202-224-3353

Here is a sample text that you can use when calling:

I am calling from (city, state) to urge that Senator ______ vote against Amendments 2370 and 2371 to H.R. 3288. These amendments would jeopardize essential Transportation Enhancements projects such as trails and other walking and bicycling infrastructure. These projects are highly valued in my community, and we need more safe and convenient opportunities to walk and bike. How does Senator _____ plan to vote on these amendments?