Larisa Manescu, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC - Early Wednesday morning, after a markup that lasted over 15 hours, House Democrats, led by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, moved a historic package through committee.
The package makes significant investments in cleaning up the transportation sector, a sector responsible for emitting the most climate-disrupting emissions in the nation and contributing to dangerous air quality in communities.
Highlights:
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$10 billion for public transit through an “Affordable Housing Access Program,” including improved frequency on existing routes; fare-free and reduced-fare service; the expansion of service areas and new transit routes; research and workforce activities; repairing transit facilitates; and projects to improve accessibility.
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$10 billion for high speed passenger rail to support planning and development of projects.
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$4 billion for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation projects, through grants to states and non-state entities.
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$4 billion to reconnect communities (often low-income communities of color) divided by highways.
In response to the T&I package passing out of the committee, Sierra Club Deputy Legislative Director Will Anderson released the following statement:
“House Democrats just took a major step towards truly transforming our transportation systems in a way that prioritizes communities most impacted by pollution and most underserved by mobility options.
“This package - which includes significant investments in public transit, passenger rail, and reconnecting communities divided by highways - is a historic development for climate, public health, and equity. This, along with other provisions of the reconciliation bill, will be crucial to ensuring economic, social, and environmental justice in all communities.
“The Sierra Club hopes to see the Senate build on the work being done by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.8 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.