Good news!
According to the League of American Bicyclists, after years of work by Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer, “the Bicycle Commuter Act was included in the House Ways and Means sub-committee bill that is currently under debate and full committee mark-up – we are waiting to see if any effort is made to strip it out of the bill. The House bill is H.R. 2776, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007.”
Update from June 21: the provision remained in the bill passed out by the full Ways and Means Committee.Â
The provision in the bill creates a tax free benefit of up to $20/month for a total estimated cost over ten years of just $10 million. This benefit is less than what several Oregon employers offer, and signficantly less than the transit benefit and various parking benefits that are offered to drivers.
And while Oregon Senator Wyden apparently tried to include the Bicycle Commuter Act provisions in the Senate Finance Committee’s Energy Advancement and Investment Act of 2007, the Committee did not do so.
In another interesting federal note, an effort to make congestion mitigation and air quality program (CMAQ) funding available to programs promoting certain single-occupant vehicle projects was defeated.
As the League notes “still more floor votes and hurdles to go.” We’ll keep you posted.
