Preserve New Stormwater Management Program 
posted February 3, 2004

Having completed opening statements, the Senate will begin debate on specific amendments to S. 1072, the six-year $311 billion TEA-21 renewal bill. Among the first amendments to come before the Senate on Wednesday, February 4 will be an amendment by Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) that would strip the stormwater program that is now included in S. 1072.

Increased emphasis on stormwater cleanup efforts is one of STPP's priorities for TEA-21 renewal. STPP coalition partners and others supported the successful effort in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to add this modest initiative during Committee action. In fact, Senators John Warner (R-VA), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) led the effort that called upon states to reserve 2 percent of their Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds each year for stormwater projects. (Total commitment of less than $1 billion over six years out of the bill's $255 billion in total highway spending.)

ACTION NEEDED:

Call your Senators (contact their district offices) and urge them to oppose the Bond amendment that would eliminate the stormwater provisions that are part of the TEA-21 renewal bill (S. 1072) now pending before the Senate. 

Note: It is likely that Senate office buildings may still closed due to a biohazard threat so please call your Senator's district office and urge opposition to the Bond amendment. To find contact information for Senate district offices, go to www.congress.org

RESOURCES:

Dear Colleague letter from Senator Warner (R-VA) and Senator Chafee (R-RI) urging colleagues to keep the stormwater program in the SAFETEA

See the text of the Senate TEA-21 renewal bill, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 (S. 1072), as passed by the Environment & Public Works Committee in November, 2003, online at Tea3.

Find the updates on TEA-21 renewal and links to key Congressional committees at Tea3.

Join the ANTC coalition to receive updates and find other groups in your state, along with other state-specific statistics, at http://www.transact.org/states/default.asp.

TO REPORT BACK OR For More Information:

Contact Andrea Broaddus at the Surface Transportation Policy Project at 202-466-2636.