Local Hire Act

Discussed the Transportation for Heroes Act of 2013 (H.R. 2362).Support HR 3978, New Opportunities for Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Financing Act (NOBPIFA), sponsored by Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ 8th). The bill includes funding for achieving compliance with the ADA, improving public transit, biking and pedestrian infrastructure. Support HR 3494/S 1708, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act, sponsored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR 3rd) and Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC 6th), and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). The bills would require the DOT to set a non-motorized safety performance measure. Advocated for passage of a long-term surface transportation bill with adequate funding measures. Any bill should incentivize solutions to ensuring an accessible, affordable, reliable and safe transportation system in urban, suburban, and rural settings. Support public transit, funding for Section 5310, pilot programs that measure connectivity, including usability of sidewalks, TIGER and FAST grants that can support sidewalk and curb cut maintenance. Suupport biking and pedestrian programs and accessible pathways in MAP-21 reauthorization. Requested funding for progams that support people with disabilities' access to transportation. Discussed improving regulations for out-of-water survival craft included in the Coast Guard reauthorization bill. Discussed dedicated paratransit funding options and the creation of an incentive program to improve paratransit and transit operations for people with disabilities. Discussed establishing a transportation careers workforce development progam at the DOT to create pathways into quality operations, repair, maintenance, and construction jobs for disadvantaged workers including people with disabilities; foster investments in underserved communities in public transportation, bicycle and pedestrian projects (including ADA compliance) through DOT TIGER and TIFIA grants; and leverage DOT and related agency data collection, performance measures, and collaboration to ensure transportation projects benefit all by requiring DOT to prepare a quadrennial report of non-discrimination. United Spinal signed on to a letter to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works in support of financing for transit-oriented development (TOD). The EPWs bill included a proposal that would 1) recognize TOD as an eligible category in the TIFIA grant program and (2) lower the project cost threshold from $50million to $10million for TOD-projects. The provision passed and remains in the EPW bill. United Spinal signed on to a letter to Senate and House Transportation Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (T-HUD) subcommittee leadership. The letter urges leadership to maintain funding for Department of Transportation programs impacting people with disabilities in the FY 2015 T-HUD appropriations bill. United Spinal has recommended that US DOT ensure that a non-motorized measure would include people who use motorized and non-motorized wheelchairs as part of the Highway Safety Performance Management proposed rules. Supported legislation allowing states and cities to require local residents be hired for highway and public transportation projects. Local residents could include people with disabilities. H. R. 3620 - Local Hire Act.