Yes, it’s true: there are actual legislative efforts taking place in Congress that directly promote bike commuting across the nation.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) originally conceived the act and brought it to the House of Representatives in March this year. A Senate version of the same bill was also introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) in March. This is the third year in a row these bills have been introduced by the Congressmen.
Under the current tax code, there is something called a Transportation Fringe Benefit that allows employers to provide tax exempt compensation to employees for certain costs incurred while commuting to work. This includes parking and mast-transit costs. But there is not a word about bicycles.
This is what the Congressmen hope to change. Rep. Blumenauer and Sen. Wyden want to include bike commuting within the Transportation Fringe Benefit so that employers can offer the same tax exempt benefits to employees who get to work on their bicycles. The House bill is number H.R. 1498 and the Senate bill is number S. 858. They hope to get the changes attached to the next energy bill in the House on July 4.
I will be following these bills closely and automatic updates will appear in the column on the right-hand side of this blog. Keep checking in to see what is happening.
Better still... take action now!
Visit Rep. Blumenaur's web site for more facts and information about the proposed amendment. You can also read the amendment itself.
Go to the League of American Bicyclists, fill out their form, and an email in your name will automatically be sent to each of the men and women representing us in Congress.
Contact our NM Congressional Delegates directly, in your own words:
Sen. Pete Domenici
328 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6621
Email: through his website
Website: http://domenici.senate.gov/
Sen. Jeff Bingaman
703 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5521
TDD: (202) 224-1792
Tollfree (in NM): 1-800-443-8658
Email: senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov, or through his website
Website: http://bingaman.senate.gov/
Rep. Heather Wilson
442 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-6316
Email: through her website
Website: http://wilson.house.gov
Rep. Steve Pearce
1607 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2365
Email: through his web site
Website: http://www.house.gov/pearce
Rep. Tom Udall
1410 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-6190
Email: through his website
Website: http://www.house.gov/tomudall
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