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Action Alert:
Help Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Defend Railbanking in Missouri
We need your help to protect the most fundamental federal law enabling the building of rail-trails. This law made it possible to build Missouri's beloved Katy Trail State Park, and is critical to our ability to build the Rock Island Trail in the state. Please write your Congressman today to ensure that our ability to make rail-trails is not harmed.
Please Take Action!
You can download a sample letter and find the contact information for Missouri Representatives below. If you do not know your Congressional representative, you can find that information at www.house.gov using your zip code. We recommend using email, fax, or phone rather than mail.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy gave testimony at a Congressional hearing on July 13, 2006 about proposed legislation affecting the Rails to Trails Act of 1983. At issue is the "railbanking" law that authorizes the federal government to preserve unused railroad corridors through use as trails.
The hearing addressed H.R. 4581, a bill introduced by Congressman Akin (R-Mo) in December, 2005. Mr. Akin and other members of Missouri's Congressional delegation have touted this bill as a way to help Missouri landowners who lost a court claim for compensation of lost property interests (Illig v. United States). The court found that the landowners had waited too long to make a claim.
While there are special circumstances that might justify revival of the Illig's claim, H.R. 4581 is not the right solution. The bill would amend the federal railbanking law and open the door to much bigger threats to our beautiful rail-trail system. The unique Illig case can be resolved without taking such overly broad action.
By opening the railbanking statute to changes, the bill also could become a means for rail-trail opponents in Congress to undermine the railbanking program. For example H.R.1261, currently pending in Congress, aims to prevent use of completed new rail-trails so long as there are any pending disputes in court relating to property interests in the trail. That could mean many years of delay.
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Missouri Representatives Contact Information
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Wm. Lacy Clay (D-1st)
Web site: http://www.house.gov/clay/
St. Louis City office:
P: (314) 367-1970
F: (314) 367-1341 St. Louis County office:
P: (314) 890-0349
F: (314) 427-6320
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Todd Akin (R-2nd)
Send an E-mail
St. Louis District office:
P: 314-590-0029 or 1-866-236-3392 (toll free for residents where long distance fees apply)
F: 314-590-0037
St. Charles District office:
P: 636-949-6826
F: 636-949-3832
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Russ Carnahan (D-3rd)
Send an E-mail
St. Louis District office:
P: (314) 962-1523
F: (314) 962-7169
Jefferson County District office:
P: (636) 937-8039
F: (636) 937-7138
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Ike Skelton (D-4th)
Send an Email
Blue Springs office:
P: 816-228-4242
Jefferson City office:
P: 573-635-3499
Lebanon office:
P: 417-532-7964
Sedalia office:
P: 660-826-2675
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Emanuel Cleaver II (D-5th)
Send an E-mail
Kansas City office:
P: 816-842-4545
F: 816-471-5215
Independence office:
P: 816-833-4545
F: 816-833-2991
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Sam Graves (R-6th)
Send an E-mail
Liberty District office:
P: 816.792.3976
F: 816.792.0694
St. Joseph District office:
P: 816.233.9818
F: 816.233.9848
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Roy Blunt (R-7th)
Send an E-mail
Springfield office:
P: (417) 889-1800
F: (417) 889-4915
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Jo Ann H. Emerson (R-8th)
Send an E-mail
Cape Girardeau District office:
P: (573) 335-0101
F: (573) 335-1931
Farmington District office:
P: (573) 756-9755
F: (573) 756-9762
Rolla District office:
P: (573) 364-2455
F: (573) 364-1053
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Kenny C. Hulshof (R-9th)
Send an E-mail
Columbia office:
P: (573) 449-5111
F: (573) 449-5312
Hannibal office:
P: (573) 221-1200
F: (573) 221-5349
Washington office:
P: (636) 239-4001
F: (636) 239-1987
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