Strengthen the Global Warming Bill!

(photo Flickr.com/generated)

The climate change bill is right behind health care in the Senate (it has already passed in the House). However, there is a key piece missing: the bill doesn't do enough to address the significant and growing contribution to climate change from vehicles, even though transportation is the second-biggest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. 

While the current version of the Senate bill has increased the amount of funding going to address transportation's contribution to climate change (the House Bill allocated 1% and the Senate bill currently allocates a little less than 3%), more is needed.  Even 3% of the funding cannot hope to adequately address sources that contribute about 33% of the problem.

Studies show that supporting smart growth and providing transportation choices are two cost-effective ways to actually achieve greenhouse gas reductions, as well as save communities and consumers money in the long run by reducing infrastructure costs, reducing the amount spent on gas, and spurring high quality real estate development. Further, people like these types of solutions because they reduce their transportation expenses and can make a big difference in household budgets.

Please take a minute to write and ask your Senator to support more money to support smart growth and transit solutions in the climate change bill. Please feel free to add your personal thoughts and reflections; it will make your letter much more effective.