Victory!

Thanks to tens of thousands from around the country who spoke up for trails, walking and bicycling, Senator Coburn (Okla.) withdrew his amendment that would have eliminated dedicated funding for trails, walking and bicycling from the extension of our nation's transportation bill!

For more background on this issue, please see the original text of the alert, below.

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Thank you!

Senator Strikes Out at TE
Sen. Coburn Threatens Nation’s Largest Trail, Walking, Bicycling Funding Source

Since its inception in 1991, the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program has benefited every single congressional district in our nation. As the largest funding source for trails, walking and bicycling, TE improves not only our transportation system, but also our economy, by helping individuals, communities and the nation save money, all the while creating quality jobs.

We expect the U.S. House of Representatives to vote on a six-month "clean" extension of our federal transportation bill ("SAFETEA-LU") on Tuesday, September 13. We anticipate strong bipartisan support to continue all transportation funding, including trails, walking and bicycling, for six months to give Congress time to agree on a multi-year bill. The Senate will then vote on this House bill.

However, Sen. Coburn plans to introduce an amendment to eliminate the dedicated set-aside for the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program from the extension. TE is the nation’s largest funding source for trails, walking and bicycling. He may even go so far as to filibuster to get his way, blocking the whole bill, including maintenance and construction of roads, bridges and transit.

Sen. Coburn is willing to hold our entire transportation system hostage—threatening funding for highways, bridges and transit, along with the hundreds of thousands of jobs they create—all to jeopardize a popular, fiscally prudent program.

Make no mistake: If Sen. Coburn succeeds, then trail, walking and bicycling projects in many states will grind to a halt. And with the loss of these projects, we will also lose the job, health, economic, environmental and congestion-reducing benefits of trails.

Your senators can help stop this troubling crusade. Please ask them to vote "No" on the Coburn amendment, and to vote for cloture to end a filibuster from Sen. Coburn, thereby keeping our nation moving.

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Thank you.