Capitol Hill is buzzing with the news: just moments ago, a new transportation bill was released, and President Obama’s administration is pushing Congress to pass a funding plan quickly. And we must ask ourselves, Why the rush? Transportation funding is running out. However, we can not afford to keep throwing money at transportation agencies/authorities unable to show progress on the issues that matter to us all:

 Easily accessible - for & by - persons with disabilities; affordable; energy efficient, to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and toward protecting the environment; contribute to safe and vibrant communities (pedestrian safety) and to maximize access to jobs for everyone, including persons with disabilities.

Tell Congress: No new money without a real, sustainable plan that maximizes full access within all federally funded transportation programs, for persons with disabilities. And, that it ensures that the Private Transportation Industry shall have – at a minimum – a percentage of its fleet be wheelchair accessible/universal design. The National Highway Trust Fund - which pays for road work, bike and pedestrian facilities and transit projects - will run out of money in August.

With funds drying up, the pressure to throw more money at our problems is growing. Some in Congress are poised to take money from other needs to prop up the trust fund, which comes from gas taxes. As is all to often, they would prefer to go on spending our tax dollars without a real plan that addresses the lack of access to much of our transportation infrastructure by persons with disabilities. But more money with no plan to address the lack of accessible rural & private transportation by Americans with disabilities, is not a sustainable answer.

The U.S. hasn't had a vision for transportation policy in decades and they have failed to implement standards to ensure accessibility by persons with disabilities. We've been trying to maximize accessibility, build our way out of an inaccessible transportation system and, a congested and inefficient system with no accountability and no actual plan to efficiently link our roads, trains, buses, bikeways and pedestrian-friendly streets.

The result of such an inefficient and inaccessible transportation system is: it is incapable of aiding with the fulfillment of the Olmstead decision, contributes to comunity segregation and individual isolation, longer, more frustrating, less safe and increasingly expensive commutes for all of us and, it contributes to “Global Warming” and continued dependency on foreign countries for our energy consumption. But now we have an opportunity for change. We must ensure that our country's transportation investments maximizes accessibility for persons with disabilities and, strengthens access to our economy, our environment and our health.

Tell your representatives we need real reform before we throw more money at our problems. Don't let Congress make the same mistakes it's made in the past. We must fund a fully accessible transportation system, and we must do it right this time. As always, thank you for your support. Please get back to me and let me know what action you have taken toward the education of your representatives about the lack of accessible transportation services for citizens with disabilities.

Again, thank you – Cliff.

You can send a message to your representative by going to the link below.

I have also provided you with some ideas about what to put in your message.

Or Click this link to find your member to foward the letter to:

Dear Member of Congress:

As your constituent, person with a disability, an advocate for persons with disabilities, a member of a Transportation Committee, I’m writing to encourage you to support a serious overhaul of our federal transportation program.

We cannot afford to wait any longer! We must put a down payment on serious reforms that will maximize accessibility, help build a safe, clean, and smart transportation system and, addresses the lack of wheelchair accessible private transportation. Chairman Oberstar's recently released transportation legislation, which incorporates many forward-thinking recommendations for building the safe, clean and smart transportation system our country desperately needs.

With the Obama administration pressing for an 18-month transportation funding extension, the political battle is heating up.

Please ensure that the following reforms are included in any new transportation legislation: Federal transportation investments must be accompanied by national performance objectives and accountability measures, which will help us meet our nation’s broader economic, energy, equity, climate and health goals. A bill in the House, HR 2724, would establish these objectives, and deserves your support.

Transportation funding must address the lack of wheelchair accessible transportation, especially in rural areas, a lack of efficient coordination of Human Services and general public transportation services, and to finally eliminate discrimination against users of powered wheelchairs by the Private Transportation Industry.

It is for these reasons - among many others – that there is a critical need to establish a National Transportation Strategic Plan before spending vast new sums or raising taxes. States and metropolitan areas must connect their transportation planning, with land use planning (for pedestrian safety) in order to ensure that communities across the country are accessible for & by persons with disabilities, more livable, more affordable for all Americans and less reliant on carbon intensive transportation options.

Transportation reform should include funding and requirements for: all federally funded transportation program shall have fully wheelchair accessible vehicles, a percentage of all private transportation vehicles shall be wheelchair accessible/universal design and energy efficient and to maximize workforce development or green jobs, which are critical to making sure that federal transportation investments can lift low-income workers out of poverty and provide job training for people who need it most.

The final legislation must provide the American people – including Americans with Disabilities - with the increased transportation options and accessibility they need to compete and thrive in the 21st Century. It is critical that Congress and the Administration work together to help America realize this vision in the days and months ahead. Thank you for your support. When society becomes accessible for and by people with disabilities, society will be accessible for all.

Sincerely, Your Name

Your Email Address and Home Address

Update Power Wheelchair Alert

Here is an Alert to send to your member of Congress and to help this week! The other day when I was in a meeting with Senate Finance we were discussing the future Medicare cuts.

Those cuts came at the cost to many people who have disabilities and use power wheelchairs. Not only are we going to be dealing with Competitive Bidding, but  now the elimination of the First Month Purchase option is in those new cuts proposed by Senate Finance.