ACTION ALERT!! Transportation All Over Again!
February 4, 2005

Maureen McCloskey
of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, writes:

As you may (or may not) know, the transportation bill died a slow death last year as Congress wrangled over funding. So it will be reborn in the coming weeks in what congressional staff hopes will be a much less painful process. They hope to move this bill very quickly; in fact they want to bring it to a joint conference by mid-March in hopes of completing it before the latest extension expires on May 31, 2005.

Now is the time to ask the SENATE COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (Committee of jurisdiction) to introduce the New Freedom Initiative as a separate program, as it will be in this year's House bill. The House bill will be introduced Wednesday, February 9 and we like their version of New Freedom. We don't know when the Senate will introduce their bill; it will be very soon and word is that they will introduce the same version from last session, which didn't do much for New Freedom. (If you remember, the House went with a separate program; the Senate simply added New Freedom and its funding to the 5310 program, which is generally used for purchasing vehicles for "elderly and disabled" programs.)

We need to pressure the Senate Banking Committee to correct the New Freedom program before they introduce the bill. I'm attaching a letter specifically on this issue  please feel free to modify as needed for talking points. But they really need to listen to people with disabilities when it comes to a program intended for our benefit  NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US! The Senate bypassed us last year, so let's not let them do it again.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

You don't need to contact your representative, just your Senator. Call, email, or fax them as soon as possible  local office or in DC. If he/she is not on the Senate Banking committee, ask them to contact that committee and tell them the disability community wants a separate New Freedom Program in the transportation reauthorization. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 202-416-7696 or Maureen McCloskey.

BANKING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
This is our prime target:

Richard Shelby Chairman (R-AL)
Paul S. Sarbanes Ranking Member (D-MD)
Robert F. Bennett (R-UT)
Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT)
Wayne Allard (R-CO)
Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Michael B. Enzi (R-WY)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)
Rick Santorum (R-PA)
Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Jim Bunning (R-KY)
Thomas R Carper (D-DE)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
John E. Sununu (R-NH)
Jon S. Corzine (D-NJ)
Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)
Mel Martinez (R-FL)

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SAMPLE LETTER

Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA- 21)

As members of the disability community, we ask you to support the New Freedom Initiative as an independent program in the reauthorization of TEA-21. 

We understand that the House will introduce essentially the same language from Section 3018 of last year's H.R. 3550. We strongly support this provision and oppose the version of New Freedom Initiative from last year's Senate bill, S.1072 or SAFETEA.

In the minimal changes for New Freedom, the Senate expanded Section 5310 to "provide services to persons with disabilities that exceed those services required by the Americans with Disabilities Act." While this is an intended purpose for New Freedom, this language greatly limits what we hope for from the program. The requirements of Section 5310 would not allow New Freedom funds to be used for travel training, volunteer driver or voucher programs, accessibility improvements to the pedestrian right of way and accessible taxi programs.

All of these uses and more were permitted by the language in the House. H.R. 3550 report language stated:

• The New Freedom formula grant program will expand the transportation mobility options available to persons with disabilities beyond the requirements of the ADA. Examples of projects and activities that might be funded under the program include, but are not limited to:
• Purchasing vehicles and supporting accessible taxi, ride- sharing, and vanpooling programs.
• Providing paratransit services beyond minimum requirements (3/4 mile to either side of a fixed route), including for routes that run seasonally.
• Making accessibility improvements to transit and intermodal stations not designated as key stations.
• Supporting voucher programs for transportation services offered by human service providers.
• Supporting volunteer driver and aide programs.
• Supporting mobility management and coordination programs among public transportation providers and other human service agencies providing transportation.

The disability community supports this language because it expands transportation options and allows integrated services that will not further segregate people with disabilities. While New Freedom funding requires accessible services, it does not require that services be limited solely to people with disabilities. This language better addresses the integration goals of the New Freedom Initiative. A second advantage of the House version is that the funds are able to be used for operating purposes on a 50/50 match. (Section 5310 should also be so amended, and is in the House provision.)

Please understand that we strongly support Section 5310 and believe that funding for that program must be increased. New Freedom programs should be coordinated with 5310 services. But we do not think that the restrictions of the 5310 program lead to integration of people with disabilities. To successfully achieve the goals of the New Freedom Initiative, we ask you to include the provisions from the House bill to be introduced on February 9, 2005.

The disability community had little opportunity for input to S. 1072 in the 108th Congress. We hope that you will hear our request now and use the House language for New Freedom Initiative in this session's TEA-21 reauthorization.

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