EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume One, Number One September/October 1991 CALL TO ACTION: How should our federal transportation money be spent? Environmental Care For the World, (ECW) a new, religiously based organization, modeled after Bread For The World, has submitted the following analysis and call to action. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE ACT Background. The Highway Act of 1956 put the Federal Government into the role of builder of the interstate and defense highway system. While this program has effectively linked our nation together, it has also been a major contributor to urban sprawl, the demise of mass transit, air pollution, and an accelerating "Auto addiction." The Surface Transportation Assistance Act must be re-authorized by September 30, 1991. The Senate has passed SB1205 which, according to the watchdog organization, Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP), goes a long way towards satisfying the provisions considered essential to a strong transportation reform bill, including: Incentives to maintain and improve the efficiency of existing transit and highway facilities Minimal funding for road-widening and a new National Highway System. Adequate funding and decision-making authority for metropolitan areas to meet Clean Air Act requirements. Assurance of availability of full funding for mass transit Stronger links between land use and transportation to avoid sprawl, auto dependency and energy inefficiency. Action has moved to the House where – The House Public Works and Transportation Committee has introduced a bill (HR 2950) which puts excessive emphasis on highways , and rewards states for high fuel consumption. Now is the time to let your views be known! Write your Representatives! Address: the Honorable "Joe Smith", US House of Representatives, Washington DC 20515; Dear Congressman Joe Smith, etc; Or, call her/his Washington office (202) 224-3121. A LEGISLATIVE PHONE TREE ECW will be following national legislation closely. At critical times it will activate a phone tree. If you are willing to participate in the phone tree network, send your name, address, phone numbers (home and office) and congressional district to: Environmental Care For the World, 812 S. Ivy, Arlington, VA 22204; phone (703) 486-2870 evenings or (318) 357-1748 daytime. Home     Table of Contents