So often we share our worries and concerns -- our complaints and frustrations with our elected leaders.  It would be fantastic to THANK those who stand up in defense of the matters important to us.  Senator Casey did that recently, along with many others in PA who made it clear that walking and biking are critical elements of the daily lives of most, if not all, Pennsylvanians.  Please take time to send his office a mesasge of appreciation for this!  Oh -- and accept his letter as a message to each of you.  It is this work that we together that allows elected officials know what we care about.  
~Michele

Dear Mrs. Barrett [and all members of PA Walks & Bikes]:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding the H.R. 3288, the 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. I appreciate hearing from all Pennsylvanians about the issues that matter most to them. 

On September 17, 2009, the Senate passed H.R. 3288 and the bill will now proceed to a conference committee with the House of Representatives in which the legislation will be finalized. There were a number of amendments offered to H.R. 3288 during its consideration in the Senate. 

Senators McCain and Coburn offered Senate Amendment 2371, which would have allowed states to opt out of their requirement to fund Transportation Enhancement (TE) projects. Under the Surface Transportation Program, states are required to spend approximately 10% of their annual Surface Transportation funding on enhancement activities that help expand transportation choices. Pennsylvania has benefited greatly from this program, and should continue to do so. I voted against these measures because Transportation Enhancement programs directly contribute towards economic development across the Commonwealth and provide Pennsylvanians with more commuting options. 

Senate Amendment 2410, which was offered by Senator Demint of South Carolina, would have prohibited federal funding from the Johnstown Cambria County Airport. This amendment would have set a dangerous precedent because it unilaterally singled out one airport in a punitive manner. Cambria County is one of the most economically distressed counties in the Commonwealth, and I was unwilling to support an effort that would have effectively led to the closure of this airport. The Federal Aviation Administration, in my view, is better positioned to make an objective determination about whether this airport should receive federal funding. For these reasons, I voted against this amendment, which was ultimately defeated. 

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about this or any other matter of importance to you.

If you have access to the Internet, I encourage you to visit my web site, http://casey.senate.gov. I invite you to use this online office as a comprehensive resource to stay up-to-date on my work in Washington, request assistance from my office or share with me your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you and to Pennsylvania.

Sincerely,
Bob Casey
United States Senator