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CLEAN TEA
CLEAN TEA
The Clean Low-Emissions Affordable New Transportation Equity Act is a bill that sets aside revenue from a Cap and Trade program in a future climate bill towards green transportation projects that reduce Greenhouse Gases. CLEAN TEA was introduced in the House of Representatives in the 2009 session as H.R. 1329 and in the Senate as S. 575
Under CLEAN TEA, ten percent of the revenue would be used to create a more efficient transportation system and lower greenhouse gas emissions through strategies including funding new or expanded transit or passenger rail; supporting development around transit stops; and making neighborhoods safer for bikes and pedestrians.[1]
Bill Sponsors
House of Representatives: Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), Steven La Tourette (R-Ohio), Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.)
Senate: Introduced by Sens. Thomas Carper (D-DE) and Arlen Specter (D-PA) [1]. Co-sponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Ben Cardin (D-MD).
House Climate Bill
In June 2009, CLEAN-TEA was dropped from the House-passed climate bill largely because Democrats from oil and gas-rich states wanted to direct the revenue to their hometown industries (i.e., to polluters, in the form of free emissions permits) instead of green transportation [2]. The bill allocated only 1% of cap-and-trade revenue to progressive transportation reforms.
Senate Support
As of July 2009, CLEAN TEA has five co-sponsors: Sens Thomas Carper (D-DE), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Ben Cardin (D-MD). All sit on the Environment and Public Works Committee, which will tackle the climate bill in September 2009. Because GOP support for CLEAN TEA is unlikely, five more Democratic committee members will be needed for a 10-9 committee passage [4].
White House Support
Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has so far declined to directly support the CLEAN TEA plan [3], preferring instead to wait until the House and Senate merge their respective climate bills. But a strong endorsement from the White House could attract support for the plan and push its passage.
ALSO ON THE LIVABLE STREETS NETWORK
REFERENCES
Each source is referred to by the same number every time it is cited. Please keep citation style consistent.
[1] Clean Tea Bill Introduced. Press Release from Congressman Earl Blumenauer. March 12, 2009.
[2] Schor, Elana. Congressional Climate Bill Includes ‘Complete Streets’ but not CLEAN TEA. Streetsblog Capitol Hill. May 15, 2009.
[3] Schor, Elana. White House Staying Quiet for Now on Transit’s Role in Climate Bill. Streetsblog Capitol Hill, July 15, 2009.
[4]Schor, Elana. 5 Down, 5 to Go: Plan Linking Transit to Climate Bill Wins Sponsors. Streetsblog Capitol Hill, July 17, 2009.
PICTURE REFERENCES
Pictures are cited in the order they appear above. Please keep citation style consistent.
[1] Beacon Street branch of Boston's "T". Photo by wallyg via Flickr.
[2]
