Former Congressman Sherwood Boehlert Testifies Before Congress
Washington, D.C. - Former Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC) National Transportation Policy Project (NTPP), today testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee regarding the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733). In his testimony, former Congressman Boehlert detailed recommendations from NTPP’s recently released report, Performance Driven: A New Vision for U.S. Transportation Policy. The report, released in June, presents a vision and framework for transportation policies that are performance driven, linked to a set of clearly defined goals, and held accountable for results.
“As one of four Co-Chairman of the National Transportation Policy Project (NTPP), I strongly applaud efforts undertaken in this bill [S. 1733] that emphasize investment in the transportation sector and situate it as both central to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and to improvements in energy security,” said Boehlert in his testimony. “Energy security and environmental protection together represent one of five national goals that our Project believes should be used to guide federal transportation policies and investment decisions.”
Congressman Boehlert urged the Committee to continue to consider transportation, energy and environmental issues jointly when making investment decisions, including in the upcoming transportation authorization bill. “This process of short-term extensions [to the federal transportation program] is detrimental not only to states attempting to maintain and invest in their existing transportation infrastructure, but is harmful to the national economy at a time when substantial reinvestment is needed,” Boehlert said in his testimony. “We understand the position of this Committee and the Administration is to seek an 18-month extension of current law to allow for development of a new 21st century vision for federal transportation policy. Part of this vision should include the integration of climate and energy considerations into transportation investment decision-making.”
The bill, S. 1733, includes critical elements that are directly in line with NTPP’s recommendations. Those provisions allocate specific funding for necessary investment in transportation; recognize the benefit of integrating mutually beneficial policies across transportation, energy and environmental sectors; frame a national vision addressing national objectives; use competitive programs that allow flexibility and incentivize innovation; and elevate the importance of data collection for improved transportation planning and decision-making.
“Awareness of the energy security and environmental protection dimensions of transportation is not new. However, in the past these concerns have largely been addressed outside transportation policy, often through separate policies regulating vehicle or fuel characteristics, but not as a factor informing transportation planning and investment decisions, said Boehlert. “NTPP believes the federal government should play a key role integrating climate change, energy security, and environmental protection with existing mechanisms for transportation.”
Former Congressman Boehlert encouraged the Committee to consider certain enhancements to the legislation consistent with NTPP’s recommendations. These improvements include: optimizing transportation investments, including those made with climate revenues, to achieve economic, safety and accessibility outcomes, as well environmental and energy outcomes; mode-neutral funding for greater system efficiency and innovation; and a price signal, beyond carbon pricing, to make a difference in the climate liabilities of the private sector.
Along with former Congressman Boehlert, NTPP is led by former Senator Slade Gorton, former Congressman Martin Sabo and former Mayor of Detroit Dennis Archer. NTPP’s report is a strong statement by a diverse and bipartisan group of transportation experts and business and civic leaders about the need for fundamental reform through a performance-based transportation system.
“Our nation faces imposing challenges to our economic, environmental, and energy futures. Rethinking transportation systems and investments cannot solve all of these problems – but none of these problems can be fully addressed without dealing with transportation. In that spirit, this legislation [S. 1733] must be commended for recognizing that connection,” Boehlert concluded.
For more information about NTPP and to read former Congressman Boehlert’s full testimony, visit: www.bipartisanpolicy.org.
About the Bipartisan Policy Center:
In 2007, former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell formed the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) to develop and promote solutions that can attract the public support and political momentum to achieve real progress. The BPC acts as an incubator for policy efforts that engage top political figures, advocates, academics, and business leaders in the art of principled compromise. For more information please visit our website: http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/.
“As one of four Co-Chairman of the National Transportation Policy Project (NTPP), I strongly applaud efforts undertaken in this bill [S. 1733] that emphasize investment in the transportation sector and situate it as both central to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and to improvements in energy security,” said Boehlert in his testimony. “Energy security and environmental protection together represent one of five national goals that our Project believes should be used to guide federal transportation policies and investment decisions.”
Congressman Boehlert urged the Committee to continue to consider transportation, energy and environmental issues jointly when making investment decisions, including in the upcoming transportation authorization bill. “This process of short-term extensions [to the federal transportation program] is detrimental not only to states attempting to maintain and invest in their existing transportation infrastructure, but is harmful to the national economy at a time when substantial reinvestment is needed,” Boehlert said in his testimony. “We understand the position of this Committee and the Administration is to seek an 18-month extension of current law to allow for development of a new 21st century vision for federal transportation policy. Part of this vision should include the integration of climate and energy considerations into transportation investment decision-making.”
The bill, S. 1733, includes critical elements that are directly in line with NTPP’s recommendations. Those provisions allocate specific funding for necessary investment in transportation; recognize the benefit of integrating mutually beneficial policies across transportation, energy and environmental sectors; frame a national vision addressing national objectives; use competitive programs that allow flexibility and incentivize innovation; and elevate the importance of data collection for improved transportation planning and decision-making.
“Awareness of the energy security and environmental protection dimensions of transportation is not new. However, in the past these concerns have largely been addressed outside transportation policy, often through separate policies regulating vehicle or fuel characteristics, but not as a factor informing transportation planning and investment decisions, said Boehlert. “NTPP believes the federal government should play a key role integrating climate change, energy security, and environmental protection with existing mechanisms for transportation.”
Former Congressman Boehlert encouraged the Committee to consider certain enhancements to the legislation consistent with NTPP’s recommendations. These improvements include: optimizing transportation investments, including those made with climate revenues, to achieve economic, safety and accessibility outcomes, as well environmental and energy outcomes; mode-neutral funding for greater system efficiency and innovation; and a price signal, beyond carbon pricing, to make a difference in the climate liabilities of the private sector.
Along with former Congressman Boehlert, NTPP is led by former Senator Slade Gorton, former Congressman Martin Sabo and former Mayor of Detroit Dennis Archer. NTPP’s report is a strong statement by a diverse and bipartisan group of transportation experts and business and civic leaders about the need for fundamental reform through a performance-based transportation system.
“Our nation faces imposing challenges to our economic, environmental, and energy futures. Rethinking transportation systems and investments cannot solve all of these problems – but none of these problems can be fully addressed without dealing with transportation. In that spirit, this legislation [S. 1733] must be commended for recognizing that connection,” Boehlert concluded.
For more information about NTPP and to read former Congressman Boehlert’s full testimony, visit: www.bipartisanpolicy.org.
About the Bipartisan Policy Center:
In 2007, former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell formed the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) to develop and promote solutions that can attract the public support and political momentum to achieve real progress. The BPC acts as an incubator for policy efforts that engage top political figures, advocates, academics, and business leaders in the art of principled compromise. For more information please visit our website: http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/.