The Honorable Rick Perry
Governor of Texas
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711
Dear Governor Perry:
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education are pleased to present "United We Ride: National Leadership Forum on Human Service Transportation Coordination," on February 23-25, 2004, in Washington, D.C. We invite you to join us in our commitment to develop comprehensive strategies to deliver efficient and affordable community transportation services to all citizens, including individuals with disabilities, older adults, persons of lower income, and transit dependent populations.
As Governor, you are invited to appoint three to five senior level decision-makers to participate in this important meeting. We strongly encourage you to include a representative from your Department of Transportation on your leadership team. Other members of your team may include representatives from the State of Unit on Aging, Workforce Investment Board, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Medicaid, or other human service programs. We recommend that only one representative from any particular agency participate on the team.
The forum will be held at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, located at 1127 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. Approximately 250 leaders representing a variety of State and Federal perspectives are expected to attend. Participants will include a leadership team from each State, advocates, transportation authorities, and human service providers.
Recognizing that effective coordination is needed to ensure better service for more people, this forum will build on the recommendations of a recent expert panel and a report on transportation coordination by the General Accounting Office. As a result of the findings, we have developed five initiatives to move effective transportation efforts forward. A copy of the initiatives and background information is enclosed. Our forum is an important step toward implementing these tools and coordinating efforts between human services and transportation providers.
During the forum, we hope that you and your representatives will join in an awards ceremony on the evening of Monday, February 23, when Members of Congress, top Administration officials and industry leaders present the "United We Ride Awards." These awards will recognize those who are leading the way in building and implementing infrastructures, policies and programs that facilitate coordination. Awards criteria and application information can be found on-line at http://www.fta.dot.gov/CCAM/www/index.html.
The United We Ride Leadership Forum is by invitation only. Expenses for airfare, hotel (2 nights), and meals during the event will be supported by Project ACTION for up to three members of your State Leadership Team. Please fax the attached nomination form with the names and information of your appointed team to Elizabeth Soloman at (202)366-3136. Each of these representatives will receive conference and registration information directly. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact Bryna Helfer at (202) 366-1663 or e-mail at byrna.helfer@fta.dot.gov.
Effective and compelling leadership is an essential element for ensuring transportation services so that citizens can access key services, build strong communities, and achieve the independence that all Americans deserve. We look forward to your participation in this important forum.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ /s/ ____________________________ ______________________________ Norman Y. Mineta Elaine L. Chao Secretary Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Labor /s/ /s/ ____________________________ ______________________________ Tommy G. Thompson Rod Paige Secretary Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Department of Education