[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 19150-19151]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         ON THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TRANSIT PARITY ACT OF 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 12, 2013

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Transit Parity Act of 
2013. The bill will extend federal tax benefits for mass transit and 
parking at current levels for one year. There is currently a permanent 
provision providing federal tax benefits for parking and mass transit; 
however, the mass transit benefit is funded at half the level of the 
parking benefit. The mass transit benefit was temporarily raised this 
year, but with cuts to the mass transit benefit set to occur on January 
1, 2014, impacts will be felt throughout this region and the country.
  Millions of people commute in and out of cities every day, bolstering 
their economies and improving the overall wellbeing of the country, 
with this region as a prime example. Why would we want to encourage 
people to drive rather than use mass transit? At the very least, there 
is no excuse for preferential treatment of driving.
  I support a permanent equalization of commuter benefits, but given 
the costs associated with a permanent extension, the focus of this bill 
is a temporary one-year extension of benefits. I will seek to bring 
this bill to the floor before Congress adjourns for the year. If the 
bill is not passed before then, I will seek retroactive equalization of 
benefits.
  The bill will continue to encourage commuters to use mass transit by 
equalizing tax benefits for mass transit and parking. Congress did the 
sensible thing when it increased the commuter benefit cap to $245 per 
month, the same as for parking earlier this year. Unless Congress takes 
action now, however, mass transit benefits will decrease by nearly 50 
percent, to $130, while the benefit for parking will increase to $250. 
However, this bill makes federal tax benefits for mass transit and 
parking equal at $250 in 2014. I support a permanent equalization of 
commuter benefits, but given the costs associated with a permanent 
extension, the focus of this bill is on a one-year extension of equal 
benefits.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

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