2025
Federal Legislative
Program
Bakersfield Mayor & City Council
Karen Goh………….…....………….………….…………………………….………………... Mayor
Eric Arias…….……….....…………………………………….…………..……………………..Ward 1
Andrae Gonzales .………………………….……....……………………………………….. Ward 2
Ken Weir….……….………………………….……………..……………….……………………Ward 3
Bob Smith ……….……………….……………………………..…..……………………………Ward 4
Larry Koman …...………………..……………………………………….……………..………Ward 5
Zack Bashirtash .....………………………………….….……..……..……………………….Ward 6
Manpreet Kaur....…….…………………………….….………….………….……………….Ward 7
Table of Contents
Definitions .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Washington D.C. Delegation ...................................................................................................................... 5 Legislative Program .................................................................................................................................... 7 Legislative Principles .................................................................................................................................. 8 2025 Federal Legislative Priorities ............................................................................................................ 9
1. Advocate for Federal Funding ........................................................................................................ 10
2. Pursue Federal resources for transportation and infrastructure ................................................ 12
3. Pursue Federal resources in support of improved social determinants of health. ..................... 13
4. Pursue Federal programs or funding initiatives in support of the City’s Economic and Community Development Strategies ................................................................................................... 14
5. Advocate for federal regulations that protect industries that drive regional economic development including agriculture, energy production, and logistics.............................................. 16 2025 Legislative Positions ......................................................................................................................... 17
Definitions
Legislative Program
The Bakersfield City Council will adopt a Legislative Platform before the start of each calendar year. The Legislative Platform outlines the City of Bakersfield’s legislative priorities and interests as well as provides general authority and direction regarding advocacy efforts on behalf of the City to: the City Manager’s Office; City departments; and the City’s federal legislative advocate.
Legislative Principle
Legislative Principles are foundational statements which include broad legislative objectives or philosophies that form the basis for establishing Legislative Priorities and Positions.
Legislative Priority
Items receive designation as Legislative Priorities within the Legislative Program when it is anticipated that they will (1) have a significant impact on the City of Bakersfield; (2) require significant effort by City staff and/or the City’s federal legislative advocate; and (3) have a strategic action identified to address a high-level priority for the City.
Legislative Position
The City of Bakersfield has numerous areas of legislative interest beyond those that rise to the top as Legislative Priorities. The City also prepares position statements on regularly recurring legislation and funding and new issues that arise each year in the legislative process. Legislative Positions provide background on the importance of the issue to the City of Bakersfield and state the position of the City and any action that will be pursued to address it.
Washington D.C. Delegation
The Honorable Alex Padilla The Honorable Adam Schiff United States Senate United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable David Valadao The Honorable Vince Fong
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives 2465 Rayburn House Office Building 243 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20003
Legislative Program
Purpose
Each year, the United States Congress proposes and enacts legislation, some of which affects local municipal governments. Our Summit Strategies team, congressional delegation, national associations, and partner agencies keep the City of Bakersfield informed on proposed legislation, federal rulemaking, and grant announcements. At times, it is in the interest of the City to take a position on proposed federal actions. The Legislative Program establishes legislative principles, priorities, and positions that provide direction for advocating for the City of Bakersfield with the federal government.
Process
For proposed legislation that is consistent with the City’s Legislative Program or consistent with legislative positions the City has taken, City staff shall be authorized to prepare position letters for the Mayor, Vice Mayor, or City Manager’s signatures. All members of the City Council shall receive copies of submitted position letters. This agenda also authorizes staff and our Summit representation team to visit with our legislative delegation to express the City’s position in person to Congress, federal agencies, and other relevant stakeholders on federal issues.
Items not addressed in the City’s Legislative Priorities may require they be brought to the City Council for consideration. These legislative priorities may only address issues directly relevant to or impacting the provision of municipal services.
The City will not address matters that are not pertinent to the City’s local government services such as partisan, socially divisive, or international issues.
Legislative Principles
In its relationship with the federal government, the City will always:
• Seek the broadest authority for our citizens and the City Council to make decisions locally. • Seek out, develop, and support legislative and budget efforts that protect and/or enhance local government revenue, maximize the City’s access to funding, and/or increase local funding flexibility.
• Support federal legislative and budget actions that will provide robust funding for domestic infrastructure, public safety, community development, parks, and economic development programs that support City efforts to maintain and enhance the quality of life. • Seek federal support for City priority projects through congressionally directed spending and discretionary grant programs.
• Oppose legislative or administrative actions that have negative fiscal impacts on the City. • Oppose legislative or administrative actions that would create mandates and/or preempt local decision-making authority.
• Encourage and seek legislation to facilitate orderly and sustainable economic expansion and growth and increase the opportunity for discretionary revenues and programmatic and financial flexibility for the City.
• Seek opportunities to help our partners achieve success to further improve the community. • Support legislation that furthers the adopted goals of the City Council.
It is within this philosophy that the attached federal legislative priorities and positions are adopted.
2025 Federal Legislative Priorities
1. Advocate for Federal funding.
2. Pursue Federal resources for transportation and infrastructure projects.
3. Pursue Federal resources in support of improved social determinants of health.
4. Pursue Federal programs or funding initiatives in support of the City’s economic and community development strategies.
5. Advocate for federal regulations that protect industries that drive regional economic development including agriculture, energy production, and logistics.
1. Advocate for Federal Funding
Background: In previous years, the City of Bakersfield has received significant federal funding and has successfully positioned major grant applications. Congressional earmarks were reinstated in 2021 and are now called Congressionally Directed Spending, Community Project Funding, or Community Initiated Projects. Going forward the acronym “CDS” will be used for these types of projects.
Position: The City of Bakersfield must advocate for the continued preservation and enhancement of funding allocations for critical federal agency programs and seek out CDS for the City’s priority projects.
The City should develop a priority project list to target discretionary funding from agencies, seek specific policy changes that would benefit specific projects, and position projects for CDS that may be available soon. The City should identify and advocate for priority consideration in grant funding applications, which includes securing congressional letters of support.
Action: Advocate maintaining funding for priority federal agency programs including but not limited to:
o Department of Justice Programs, specifically:
o Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
o Office of Violence Against Women
o Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) programs
o Transportation grants through US Department of Transportation (DOT) including:
o RAISE,
o Safe Streets and Roads for All,
o PROTECT,
o Bridge,
o Mega,
o Reconnecting Communities,
o Highway Funding,
o Transit Funding, and
o Any available electric vehicle charging infrastructure opportunities. o Infrastructure grants through US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) including:
o Community Development Block Grant (CDBG),
o Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME). and
o Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs.
o And other opportunities for the City including:
o Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) and
o Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER)
Action: Establish a priority project list for consideration in grant applications and CDS.
Priorities include, but are not limited to:
o MLK Park Revitalization Project
o Interstate 5 – State Route 99 western connection addition o State Route 204
o Taft Highway
o Completion of the 8th Movement, connecting Highway 99 to westbound Highway 58 o Opportunities to increase East-West movement throughout the City o Enhance high speed rail connection with downtown
o Seek federal dollars to reduced roadway fatalities
o Public Safety: Gunshot detection software , radio interoperability, prevention and intervention programs
o Brownfields
o Urban revitalization
o Neighborhood revitalization
Action: Evaluate and take positions as legislative / regulatory opportunities become available:
o Opportunity Zones
o State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction
2. Pursue Federal resources for transportation and infrastructure Background: Congress has passed three major pieces of legislation—the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act— in the last two Congresses, making an unprecedented amount of money available for local governments.
The City of Bakersfield requires significant resources to maintain streets including resurfacing pavement, striping, and other general upkeep needs.
In addition to maintenance and repair needs, Bakersfield has prioritized complete street projects to improve traffic safety and enhance economic development.
Position: The City of Bakersfield should receive an equitable share of infrastructure funding to complete our priority projects. The City of Bakersfield should receive special consideration for additional funding as a distressed community with an acute need for infrastructure. The City of Bakersfield would leverage federal funding more than an average community with economic development opportunities that would result from our priority projects.
Action: Advocate for an increase in federally appropriated infrastructure-funding. o Advocate for equitable distribution of infrastructure funding o Advocate for direct funding allocations for infrastructure projects o Advocate for the lowest possible local funding share. o Advocate for federal funding for specific City projects through congressionally directed spending and federal discretionary grant programs.
Action: Advocate for language allowing NEPA to pre-empt CEQA for new transportation and infrastructure projects in Bakersfield.
o Support legislation that would reduce the cost and speed up the delivery of infrastructure projects while maintaining strong environmental protections.
3. Pursue Federal resources in support of improved social determinants of health.
Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services. There are five major contributors to social determinants of health including economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context. The CalVIP program was initiated by the City to reduce gun violence was built on these same principles. The City of Bakersfield has been working with the Blue Zones Project, a community-wide, evidence-based approach to improving health and well-being that makes healthier choices easier for everyone living in in the City. According to the State’s CalEnviroScreen 4.0 indicator map, much of Bakersfield scores in the 90
th percentile of California census tracts for indicators such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, low educational attainment, and poverty. These indicators are particularly pronounced in low-income and high-minority areas. There are troubling metrics associated with the built environment including a high level of traffic fatalities. In 2022, there were 66 traffic fatalities, half of which include a pedestrian, as compared to 26 traffic fatalities in 2018. The City suffers from higher-than-average quality of life and violent crimes. Following the initial implementation of CalVIP in 2022, the City has seen a promising decline in violence however additional funding is needed to continue the program.
Position: Bakersfield is poised to leverage federal programs and funding that facilitate equitable and improved indicators for residents.
Action: Facilitate investments to improve social determinates of health, particularly in underserved neighborhoods
Explore opportunities to enhance public health, including obesity prevention, diabetes management, and the potential establishment of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Action: Facilitate investments in the built environment that reduce traffic fatalities.
Action: Support legislation and funding for evidence-based gun violence reduction and crime prevention programs.
4. Pursue Federal programs or funding initiatives in support of the City’s Economic and Community Development Strategies
Background: The City of Bakersfield has undertaken strategies to stimulate economic growth, including a redesign of our permitting process, adoption of a new General Plan, implementation of an aggressive economic development strategy, and leveraging state and federal programs that support redevelopment. In addition, the City has implemented initiatives facilitating revitalization of neighborhoods, while ensuring that development is sustainable and maintains the character of our community.
Position: The City of Bakersfield is poised to leverage federal programs that facilitate downtown urban renewal and neighborhood transformation. Funding related to sustainable infrastructure and planning that has been allocated in recent years should remain a priority to allow for these programs to continue the revitalization of communities like Bakersfield. The City of Bakersfield should receive an equitable share of funding supporting sustainable infrastructure and development
Action: Advocate for increased State funding opportunities and policies that position Bakersfield as a “destination for innovation” attractive to technology workers/talent, targeted technology industries, and technology-oriented business startups.
Promote programs and federal resources that would support projects consistent with the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Support legislation that increases the region’s economic resiliency through industry diversification, a focus on inclusivity, and support for transition of traditional sectors.
Support diversified business growth with long-term sustainable jobs at a livable wage.
Advocate for the development of a Mega project site
Advocate for Economic Development Administration grants Advocate for improved worker training and pathways in critical fields such as social work, nursing, transportation, and logistics.
Advocate for the placement of a large federal employer in the City.
Action: Facilitate lasting revitalization of and reinvestment in key older neighborhoods.
Support the redevelopment and clean-up efforts of the City’s target properties identified under the City’s Brownfields Site Reuse & Revitalization Program.
Oppose any legislation or administrative action that reduces funding for sustainable revitalization and development.
Advocate for infrastructure improvements along Downtown’s key corridors. Seek reauthorization of the federal Opportunity Zone program with adjustments including o Sustainable and equitable use, and
o Capital gains tax incentives for specific uses in Opportunity Zones.
Action: Advocate for increased homeless services and affordable housing construction Bring light to numerous barriers to housing production beyond the control of local governments and have significant impacts on what types of, and how many, housing units are built.
Advocate for an expansion of housing vouchers to facilitate affordable housing initiatives.
Advocate for programs that would help to shelter people experiencing homelessness.
Advocate for federal funding for specific City projects through CDS and federal discretionary grant programs.
Action:
• Advocate for funding and redevelopment tools that aid in brownfield cleanup efforts.
5. Advocate for federal regulations that protect industries that drive regional economic development including agriculture, energy production, and logistics.
Background: Bakersfield is a major producer of agricultural commodities for the United States and the world with more than $8.3 billion worth of crops grown in 2022.
Our Kern River Oil Field produces about 70% of California’s oil and more than 90% of our natural gas. We can increase this production and help make California and the United States energy independent.
Supply chain logistics are a rapidly growing industry in the Bakersfield area.
Position: The City of Bakersfield should work with federal agencies to ensure that all of Bakersfield’s resources are being fully leveraged and utilized.
Action: The City will support actions to benefit agriculture, energy production and logistics in the region to boost economic development.
2025 Legislative Positions
1. Protect Local Control
2. Protect Local Revenues and Funding for Vital Community Services
3. Public Safety
4. Infrastructure Investment
5. Improve the Quality of Life and Sustainability of the City
6. Protection of the agriculture, energy production, and logistics industries
1. Protect Local Control
Support efforts that are consistent with the doctrine of "home rule" and the local exercise of police powers, through planning and zoning processes, over local land use.
Oppose legislation that negatively impacts the City Council's authority to manage and control the public right-of-way and for the City to receive compensation for its use.
2. Protect local Revenues and Funding for Vital Community Services Oppose reductions to federal agency programs that fund local government services, particularly in instances where communities have come to depend on federal funding to maintain services.
Support full reimbursement to cities for all federal mandates.
Support efforts to restore local authority and control over revenues, governance, and service delivery as well as protect local governments against unfunded mandates.
Oppose legislation that would negatively impact the City’s ability to issue municipal bonds, including elimination of the tax-exempt status for municipal bonds.
Oppose legislation that would eliminate or limit existing local taxing authority including internet sales tax collection and broadband internet taxes.
Support legislation that would protect local control of taxing authority and revenue collection.
3. Public Safety
Support funding for local law enforcement equipment, services, or personnel.
Support legislation that allows use of federal public safety grants for intervention and prevention efforts to curb gang crime and youth violence.
Support legislation that would provide cities with a greater share of fines and forfeitures.
Support legislation that allows law enforcement to better combat gun violence through investigation, interdiction, and prevention of firearm related crimes.
Support legislation that allows federal public safety grants to be used for maintenance efforts in addition to service increases.
Ensure local discretion in the adoption and implementation of health and safety standards contained in the building and fire codes.
Support funding for local emergency operations including equipment, services, and personnel.
4. Infrastructure Investment
Advocate for federal funding for transportation and other infrastructure that support City projects and City programs including projects adopted in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
Support increased funding to enhance existing public transportation programs.
Advocate for federal funding for street, road, and alleyway repair within the City of Bakersfield.
Advocate that fundamental responsibility for transportation decision-making should be at the local level.
Oppose any federal reductions to existing transportation grants and programs.
Oppose legislation that limits and/or decreases the existing amount of retention proceeds withheld from any payment by a public entity to a contractor on a public project.
Advocate for trails and landscape grants.
Advocate for funding for the US Army Corps of Engineers to ensure important projects in the City of Bakersfield are completed.
Advocate for streamlining and greater efficiencies related to environmental restrictions and obstacles on major federally funded projects.
Support executive actions or legislation that streamlines federal transportation and other infrastructure funding processes or the federal stimulus funding process, if applicable. Advocate to our delegation for legislative adjustments that would streamline transportation and other infrastructure funding processes.
Support legislation or executive rulemaking that balances scarcity of local infrastructure resources, scope of street resurfacing projects, and the City’s commitment to enhancing accessibility of City infrastructure. Advocate for revisions to ADA rules requiring extensive accessibility modifications on street resurfacing projects without capacity improvements or geometric changes.
Support legislation and executive programs providing funding or tax credits for broadband Internet infrastructure to public facilities.
Support legislation or executive programs that provide local communities with low-cost loans to build networks of sidewalks, bike lanes and paths.
Support federal funding for parks and recreation infrastructure in metropolitan areas, including appropriate revisions to the Land and Water Conservation Fund that would provide for a larger allocation of state and local grants for recreation and conservation.
Support legislation and regulation that respond to recurring drought conditions and earthquake preparedness and provide increased opportunity for water conservation, storage, watershed planning, and water infrastructure improvement.
Support legislation that provides a mechanism to fund the construction, operations, maintenance, and administration of storm water programs and projects that improve quality, minimize runoff, maximize infiltration and beneficial uses, maximize flooding pro tection, and minimizes negative environmental impacts.
Oppose legislation or regulation that imposes excessive costs on local governments to achieve storm water and other Clean Water Act objectives.
Oppose additional mandated storm water pollution prevention measures that are not accompanied by funding or a mechanism to provide for funding.
Support legislation creating sustainable funding sources to assist local governments with obligations under federal storm water regulations.
5. Improve the Quality of Life and Sustainability of the City
Support efforts that impact the City’s ability to enhance the well-being, quality of life, health, and safety of residents; stabilize and enhance jobs and economic growth; and improve the environment. Support legislation and funding that is consistent with the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Support legislation that protects and maintains existing affordable housing opportunities for disabled and low-income residents, families, and senior adults.
Support legislation that provides assistance and support to low-income and under-resourced communities.
Support legislation which addresses the health, welfare, and economic needs of at-risk and vulnerable populations.
Support federal funding of programs providing nutrition for children, older individuals and other at-risk populations.
Support legislation or federal programs that strengthen and expand education and encourage partnerships between school districts, parks, and other community-based organizations to help children and families be more physically active outdoors.
Oppose legislation that has a negative impact on park and recreation agencies including the sale of parks and open space.
Support legislation and funding for energy-efficiency and water conservation projects and programs for public buildings and facilities.
Support legislation providing funding for the acquisition and restoration of wildlife habitat.
6. Protection of the agriculture, energy production, and logistics industries
Oppose legislation or governance that has negative impacts on the agriculture, energy production, and logistics industries.
Support legislation and governance that provides for protections and reasonable accommodations for the agriculture and energy production industries.
Oppose legislation or governance that attempts to supersede adopted planning documents or projects that have already been approved through appropriate processes.
Support legislation providing funding and other means development of water and energy related technologies that support the agriculture and energy production industries.
Support legislation protecting existing water supply.