Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

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By Mr. DURBIN:

S. 793. A bill to establish national standards for discharges from cruise vessels into the waters of the United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the RECORD.

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By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. COLLINS):

S. 808. A bill to encourage energy conservation through bicycling; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Conserve by Bike Act to promote energy conservation and improve public health. I am pleased to be joined by my colleague from Maine, Senator SUSAN COLLINS, in introducing this measure. This legislation addresses one part of our Nation's energy challenges. Although there is no single solution to solve our energy problems, I believe that every possible approach must be considered.

Our Nation would realize several benefits from the increased use of bicycle transportation, including lessened dependence on foreign oil and prevention of harmful air emissions. Currently, less than one trip in one hundred, .88 percent, is by bicycle. If we can increase cycling use to one and a half trips per hundred, which is less than one bike trip every two weeks for the average person, we will save more than 462 million gallons of gasoline in a year, worth more than $721 million. That is the equivalent of one full day per year in which the U.S. will not need to import any foreign oil.

In addition to fostering greater energy security, this bill will help mitigate air quality challenges, which can be harmful to public health and the environment. Unlike automotive transportation, bicycling is emission-free.

The Conserve by Bike Act encourages bicycling through two key components: a pilot program and a research project. The Conserve by Bike Pilot Program established by this legislation would be implemented by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Department would fund up to ten pilot projects throughout the country that would utilize education and marketing tools to encourage people to convert some of their car trips to bike trips. Each of these pilot projects must: (1) document project results and energy conserved; (2) facilitate partnerships among stakeholders in two or more of the following fields: transportation, law enforcement, education, public health, and the environment; (3) maximize current bicycle facility investments; (4) demonstrate methods that can be replicated in other locations; and (5) produce ongoing programs that are sustained by local resources.

This legislation also directs the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a research project on converting car trips to bike trips. The study will consider: (1) what car trips Americans can reasonably be expected to make by bike, given such factors as weather, land use, and traffic patterns, carrying capacity of bicycles, and bicycle infrastructure; (2) what energy savings would result, or how much energy could be conserved, if these trips were converted from car to bike, (3) the cost-benefit analysis of bicycle infrastructure investments; and (4) what factors could encourage more car trips to be replaced with bike trips. The study also will identify lessons we can learn from the documented results of the pilot programs.

The Conserve by Bike Program is a small investment that has the potential to produce significant returns: greater independence from foreign oil and a healthier environment and population. The Conserve by Bike Act authorizes a total of $6.2 million to carry out the pilot programs and research. A total of $5,150,000 will be used to implement the pilot projects; $300,000 will be used by the Department of Transportation to coordinate, publicize, and disseminate the results of the program; and $750,000 will be utilized for the research study.

The provisions in this bill enjoy strong, bipartisan support and have passed by unanimous consent as an amendment to a previous Senate energy package. The measure is endorsed by the League of American Bicyclists, which has over 300,000 affiliates, as well as the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Thunderhead Alliance, Bikes Belong Coalition, Adventure Cycling, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, and the League of Illinois Bicyclists.

I ask that the text of the legislation be printed in the RECORD.

There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

http://thomas.loc.gov/