Earl Blumenauer
(Photo © J. Maus)

With bipartisan support, U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) has introduced a new bill -- the Orphan Highway Restoration Act -- aimed at improving state highways that run through America's main streets.

According to Blumenauer, "orphan highways" are former U.S. numbered highways that over the years have lost traffic volume to more popular Interstate Highways.

In a press release about the bill Blumenauer says, the bill will direct funding toward improving these "abandoned" main streets: (more...)

Blumenauer demonstrating one of
several green ways to get
to work.
(Photo © J. Maus)

U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced the Green Routes to Work Act of 2009 into Congress yesterday.

The bill looks to promote "low-carbon" transportation options by providing tax credits for both employers and individuals.

In a press release about the bill, Blumenauer states:

"With global warming on the rise, and Americans’ waistlines ever expanding, it is time to level the playing field for transportation options that are clean, healthy, and save people money at the pump...

For too long, the federal government has supported commuters who drove to work but has not helped those who use other methods of transportation."

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Blumenauer in Portland on May 11th.
(Photos © J. Maus)

A few weeks ago, in the Rose Room in Portland's City Hall, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer hosted an invite-only, roundtable discussion about biking. Around the large conference table sat electeds (like Metro President David Bragdon) and representatives from a variety of local, regional, and statewide agencies, universities, non-profits, and businesses.

Besides hearing the latest bike news and ideas from the experts in his home district, Blumenauer’s main goal of the meeting was to share and hear feedback on three specific initiatives he’s working on. (more...)

As the work intensifies on Capitol Hill to re-write America's next surface transportation bill, the lobbying is heating up to make sure it includes more money for biking and walking.

As the prime pusher of pedaling in Congress, Rep. Earl Blumenauer will play an important role in making sure those who are writing the bill understand the value of investing in non-motorized transportation. On that note, Blumenauer -- along with 38 members of the Congressional Bike Caucus -- sent a letter to the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure on May 22 to make the case.

The letter was sent to the leading Members on the T & I Committee, Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) and Rep. John Mica (R-FL). (more...)

George Will, Public Weasel No. 1.

Remember just over a year ago, when U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer told the crowd at the Oregon Bike Summit that we need to "Hold the weasels accountable" when their partisan bickering holds up good bike policy?

Now, Blumenauer is doing just that in his efforts to take Newsweek's George Will to task for an anti-Portland screed he penned in a recent column. Will's story was based on faulty assumptions about America's relationship with bikes and cars and it directly insults Obama Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for his (gasp!) love of Portland.
(more...)

U.S. Congressman Earl
Blumenauer has made his
transportation project
requests public.
(Photo © J. Maus)

[Via Mapes on Politics]

U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer has made his list of "High Priority" transportation projects public, and several of them are for bike-related projects in and around the Portland metro area. According to Blumenauer, the list was created to "ensure communities are full partners" in Congress's efforts to re-write the federal transportation bill.

Capitol Hill lawmakers are in the process of creating the new bill, and as per usual, there is expected to be a lot of political wrangling and scrambling on how the hundreds of billions of dollars are spent. A small percentage of funds in the bill will go toward "High Priority Projects" that are specifically designated by Members of Congress. (more...)

Rep. Earl Blumenauer at
a reception this morning
on Capitol Hill.
(Photo © J. Maus)

When the Bike Commuter Benefit Act passed back in October, it was somewhat of a shallow victory for advocates who had pushed for its passage for seven long years. Not only did it pass as a ploy to build support for the controversial financial bailout bill, the "benefit" it provides is small ($20 per month compared to $230 for parking a car and $120 a month for taking transit), and the implementation has been the source of massive confusion to HR people across the country. Worse yet, the Bike Commuter Benefit Act included language that required bike riding employees to choose between the bike benefit or the transit benefit.
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Rep. Blumenauer and Streetsblog's
Aaron Naparstek.
- Watch video below -

Streetfilms nabbed a few minutes with Congressman Earl Blumenauer during his recent visit to New York City. In the film below, Streetsblog Editor-in-Chief Aaron Naparstek asks Blumenauer how livable streets advocates can most effectively engage their leaders and influence national transportation policy (a very timely topic).
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Senator Jim DeMint

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) introduced an amendment last night that would prohibit funding of "bicycle routes" and paths from the economic stimulus package that's working its way through Capitol Hill right now.

According to staffers in Representative Earl Blumenauer's office who are following the bill closely, Sen. DeMint's amendment was supported in a speech by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) (more...)

Getting paid to ride to
work isn't that easy...yet.
(Photo © J. Maus)

I've gotten many emails over the past few weeks wondering why I haven't covered the Bike Commute Tax Benefit that became law on January 1.

One reason is that I'm just not all that enthused about it; and it turns out I'm not the only one.

After 7 years of effort by advocates and bike-friendly politicians, the bike commuter benefit was ushered through as a way to curry favor and votes for passage of the controversial, $700 billion financial bailout package. To make matters worse, the benefit is only good for $20 per month (a pittance compared to the benefit for driving a car), you can't get it if you also receive the transit benefit, and to add insult to injury, no one seems to be able to figure out exactly how to implement it.
(more...)

Blumenauer presents the
coveted ticket.
(Photos: James Koski)

Back in December, Los Angeleno Ryan Bowen and an energetic band of friends and followers left L.A. for D.C. on their bikes to be a part of the Inaugural event. They dubbed their journey "Biking for Obama" and kept up a great blog about their adventure.

And, showing a bit of hopeful audacity, they didn't even have tickets to the Inaugural when they left.

Fortunately, D.C.'s highest-profile bike-lover (and Portland resident), Congressman Earl Blumenauer answered their plea for tickets on their website and presented them to Bowen and a friend on behalf of the Congressional Bike Caucus and Bowen's hometown Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.). (more...)

This was sent to us from Blumenauer's office on Saturday. We're hoping for some photos and will likely put something on the Front Page if/when we get them.

Biking for Obama Riders Finally Arrive In DC Joined by Rep. Blumenauer after Month-Long Bike Trek Cross-country for Inauguration

Blumenauer and Becerra Answer Cyclists’ Plea for Inauguration Tickets

Washington, DC – Tomorrow, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, will join Ryan Bowen, Founder of Biking for Obama, and over fifty riders as the Biking for Obama team bikes the final leg of their cross-country bicycle trek into Washington, D.C. for Tuesday’s Presidential Inauguration. Bowen and fellow cyclists left Los Angeles on bike over a month and 13 days ago, with no inauguration tickets, on what they called “the Highway of Hope”. (more...)

Blumenauer in front of his
office in D.C.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The New York Times has published a profile on Portland Congressional Rep. Earl Blumenauer. The story, A Bicycle Evangelist With the Wind Now at His Back appears above-the-fold on page two of the paper's weekly "Science Times" section.

Unlike the recent anti-bike comments by Rep. John Boehner that got national attention, this story paints a more positive picture of biking as a political issue.

Here's how the Times characterizes Blumenauer's work: (more...)

Mayor-elect Sam Adams in a screen
grab from an upcoming PBS series.

Portland is set to be featured in an episode of a PBS television series about the "economies of being environmentally conscious".

The series, e² transport, is in its third season. The Portland segment is titled: Portland: a Sense of Place. A trailer for the series -- which is being shot in high-def and has a very impressive, cinematic feel (meaning, this is no dry and wonky series) -- U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Mayor-elect Adams, and others are interviewed. (more...)

Blumenauer on his "green commute"
down Pennsylvania Ave.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Portland's favorite pedaling politico got his views on biking into the hands of 72.6 million Americans on Sunday.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) was featured in a Parade Magazine column titled "Greener Commute".

In the article, he was asked three questions, including one that featured Portland: (more...)

Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN)
(Photo � J. Maus)

Politico published a story today about who might get cabinet-level appointments in a Barack Obama presidency (if he's elected on Tuesday night of course).

Politico reporter Ben Smith and ABC's Jonathan Karl (who used "well-positioned Democrats" as sources) have put two familiar names in the running for Obama's Transportation Secretary -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN).

Back in May we wondered out loud whether Blumenauer (who campaigned for Obama) might get the nod, but this is the first time I've heard Oberstar's name come up.
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Blumenauer at the unveiling of his
Gas Price Relief Act, one of many
pieces of legislation that included
a bike commuter tax break
over the years.
(Photo � J. Maus)

What a long, strange trip it's been for Congressman Earl Blumenauer and his Bike Commuter Act.

The House Democrat is a former City Commissioner of Transportation in Portland (1987-96) and he was at the helm during Portland's Golden Age of biking -- a time when we laid down much of our bikeway network infrastructure that is now the envy of many cities.

Blumenauer carried his commitment to biking into the halls of Congress and has worked the system relentlessly to pass bike-friendly legislation like the bike commuter tax benefit. Calling it a "matter of equity", his idea is simple; give bike commuters the same respect and recognition in the tax code already given to folks that drive and take public transit. (more...)

From L to R: State Rep. Jackie Dingfelder, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and State Rep. Ben Cannon.

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