Summit opening.
Tomorrow morning, after a speech by Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar, Earl Blumenauer plans to re-introduce his Bike Commuter Benefits Act in a press conference on Capitol Hill.
Blumenauer just finished a speech at the opening of the National Bike Summit and he hinted at this news when he confidently said,
“With the congressional shift in Washington, It’s nice to be in a position where I can introduce legislation. The Bicycle Commuter Benefits Act will get a hearing and I think we can get it through this time.”
The Act has been around for years, but went nowhere in the old Congress.
I ran down Blumenauer’s staffer James Koski after his speech and he confirmed that the new bill will be passed out tomorrow.
This will give an added boost in enthusiasm to the hundreds of Summit attendees who will take a one-pager on the bill into their meetings with members of Congres.
Blumenauer was off to a meeting of streetcar experts where he will be joined by Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, who I bumped into in the lobby a few minutes ago.
staffer James Koski.
I’ll post more information on the bill tomorrow.