City of San Leandro
2026 Federal Legislative Platform and Policy Guidelines To be Presented to City Council:
January 12, 2026
The City of San Leandro’s federal legislative agenda for 2026 is designed to reflect the adopted priorities and policy direction of the Mayor and City Council with direct input from the City Administration. This strategic agenda establishes a platform for advocating for legislation, regulations, and funding that is consistent with the City’s adopted priorities. Adoption of this document is designed to provide standing authority for the Mayor and members of the City Council, City staff, or the City’s legislative advocates to act on pending federal legislative or regulatory matters on behalf of the City of San Leandro when time or other constraints preclude bringing such matters before the City Council in advance. Such actions could include issuing letters, expressing the City’s position in committee hearings or at legislative conferences, attending or scheduling meetings, or otherwise advocating for actions that are consistent with the policy language contained herein. This document is also designed to provide the public and the City’s advocates with a better understanding of the Mayor and City Council’s policy preferences regarding a variety of legislative and intergovernmental issues that might arise during the course of the year at the federal level.
Summary of Federal Policy Issues for Advocacy or Monitoring:
Affordable Care Act. Oppose efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Support efforts to protect health insurance coverage to the public and build upon key provisions of the Act that provide insurance coverage for at-risk populations. Support funding for Community Health Centers.
Artificial Intelligence. Support legislation that establishes clear, enforceable standards for the responsible development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence, including transparency, accountability, non-discrimination, and privacy protections.
Broadband Infrastructure. Support federal programs that facilitate the expansion of public and private access to broadband, recognizing it as critical infrastructure, and the protection of public wi-fi system integrity. Support protection of local land use authority over related infrastructure. Support network neutrality protections to ensure a level playing field among market competitors. Oppose actions that limit consumer protections or local control.
Cannabis Regulation. Support the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation to modify the Schedule I status of cannabis at the federal level, including efforts that facilitate additional scientific research and study. Support efforts to protect public safety and facilitate effective regulation, and provide state-sanctioned businesses with banking access and protections at federally regulated financial institutions. Oppose federal actions that interfere with states’ rights to oversee a regulated market or restrict local control.
Cyber Security. Support federal grant programs designed to help states and localities with cybersecurity, including those programs administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Department of Energy. Support funding opportunities and efforts to ensure energy security, reliability, and affordability. Support annual appropriations for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program.
Early childhood policy, youth engagement, and care infrastructure: Support funding opportunities and legislation that will increase access to high-quality childcare, like the Child Care Development Block Grant, to fund tuition subsidies for families, pediatric well-child visits, meals, and staff training and the increase the availability of childcare centers.
Environment & Climate. Support federal actions and resources to help communities prepare for and adapt to climate change, enhance resiliency, and mitigate impacts that endanger constituents’ public health and property, including risks associated with sea-level rise, wildfire, poor air quality, and heat. Ensure federal actions do not diminish protections for constituents’ public health and access to clean air and water. Support annual appropriations for infrastructure resiliency programs. Additionally, support federal investments that enhance climate resilience in parks, open spaces, urban forests, trails, medians, and shoreline areas, including funding for shade and cooling infrastructure, tree canopy expansion, recycled-water and drought-tolerant landscaping, stormwater and green-infrastructure improvements, and modernization of aging facilities. Support federal programs that strengthen nature-based shoreline protection, expand active-transportation connections, and improve environmental equity in neighborhoods.
Federal Aviation Administration. Work with federal officials to mitigate ongoing noise and other disparate impacts to the San Leandro community associated with flight patterns and/or the operations of surrounding Bay Area airports, including preventing public exposure to leaded fuel.
Food Access. Support funding opportunities and benefits that support food access.
Gun Safety. Support legislative and regulatory efforts to promote gun safety and initiatives to prevent mass shootings or active shooter incidents. Support and seek funding for law enforcement training or programs to address gun violence or reduce access to firearms by at-risk individuals, particularly those contending with documented mental health disorders, as authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Housing & Homelessness. Protect and support federal funding to address issues related to homelessness, including operations and services for navigation centers and emergency/transitional housing. Protect and support the Housing Choice Voucher program, Project-based Section 8 vouchers, and other federal support to create permanent supportive housing for homeless, persons with disabilities, or for working families. Advocate for continuing current levels of annual appropriations for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and other critical programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Monitor or oppose federal interventions that do not align with local policies.
Immigration Policies. Monitor developments at the federal level that would impact local immigrant populations. Support positive relations between law enforcement and immigrant communities. Support efforts to protect DREAMERs and find a pathway to citizenship for those DACA recipients.
Indigenous communities. Support efforts by Native American indigenous communities with demonstrated ancestral ties to San Leandro and/or the East Bay region to garner official federal recognition by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Law Enforcement. Support federal funding for various local or regional law enforcement initiatives administered by the Department of Justice and other federal agencies. Support the appropriation of funds to protect the public and ensure fair and impartial justice for all through the advancement of effective, accountable policing. Support uniform national standards to ensure accountability, improve transparency, and eliminate discriminatory practices when identified. Support programs that fund or provide training on de-escalation tactics, use-of-force alternatives, mental health or other crisis intervention, and other innovative strategies that better protect all members of the community.
LGBTQ+ Protections. Support efforts to protect the rights and liberties of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) community.
Libraries and Museums. Support legislation or initiatives such as the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) that would expand federal funding for libraries and museums. Work with the Institute of Museums and Library Services to support funding, policy, and research that enhance library and museum efforts to serve the public through programming, exhibits, events, and collection. Support for the development and application of new technologies and advancements in telecommunications that increase access to information, encourages resource sharing among all types of libraries, and promotes digital literacy and workforce development.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Support Congressional efforts for the long-term reauthorization and reform of the National Flood Insurance Program. Support provisions to expedite the claims process, ensure that premium rate increases do not unfairly impact residences and businesses, and acknowledge the accelerating impacts of climate change. Work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support property owners potentially impacted by changes to flood maps. Support infrastructure projects to reduce flooding or mitigate flood insurance rate increases.
National League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors. Support efforts by the National League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors to protect the interests of cities and local communities at the national level, including through participation in related advocacy efforts led by these organizations, or their committees.
Shoreline Area. Support legislative efforts or funding opportunities that would assist in the successful redevelopment of San Leandro’s shoreline, including the Shoreline Park project. Support federal funding for the dredging of recreational marinas, as well as for passenger ferry service.
Small Cell and Telecommunications Facilities. Oppose Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations that would preempt local land use regulations related to the location, placement, size, appearance, screening, or siting of “small cell” or other telecommunications transmission and receiving facilities, or other facilities such as satellite dishes, radio towers, broadcast and microwave equipment, or similar facilities. Oppose further preemption of local control over local rights-of-way and land use authority by federal agencies, including the FCC. Support local control related to the installation of 5G infrastructure.
Smart Cities Initiatives. Seek opportunities to leverage public-private partnerships and emerging technology resources that would assist communities in transforming traditional industrial sites into modern manufacturing workplaces. Support opportunities to humanize industrial districts, including funding for place- making activities.
Social Security and Medicare. Support federal actions to protect public benefits created by Social Security and Medicare, while balancing reasonable reforms that would bolster the financial solvency of both programs.
Tobacco and Vaping. Support federal efforts to discourage youth access to tobacco and vaping products. Support enforcement of the federally mandated minimum age of 21 years to purchase such products. Support federal efforts to regulate or restrict access to flavored products.
Transportation Infrastructure. Support discretionary funding for local transportation systems, especially at railroad crossings and for municipal infrastructure. Support efforts to address bicycle and pedestrian fatalities and safety, including increased crosswalks, traffic calming and related activities that further Vision Zero goals. Support legislation that enhances railroad safety and oversight for rail carriers and trains transporting hazardous materials and expands related training. Urge implementation of Positive Train Control technology in locomotives and initiatives like reduced train speeds in urban areas and safety improvements to rail crossings. Additionally, support federal funding for safe active-transportation and trail connections to parks, schools, and shoreline areas, including improvements identified in the City’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan. Support investments in multi-use paths, greenways, and park-to-park connections to enhance mobility and recreational access. Support funding for streetscape improvements such as street trees, shade structures, drought-tolerant median landscaping, and ADA upgrades that improve safety, comfort, and climate resilience.
Urban Forestry & Green Infrastructure
Support full funding of the USDA Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program to expand tree canopy in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods and advance equity goals identified in the City’s Tree Master Plan. Support federal policies that allow cities to use grant funding for long-term tree maintenance in addition to planting. Support federal Clean Air Act and environmental justice investments that improve air quality through strategic street-tree planting along major corridors. Support federal grants for median rehabilitation, bioretention, recycled-water irrigation, and drought-tolerant landscape conversions to enhance climate resilience and reduce potable water use.
Water and Wastewater Infrastructure. Support appropriations from the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies to support local water infrastructure needs. Support regulations that protect public drinking water supply, including the prevention of exposure to lead and copper in drinking water. Support reclaimed water projects and efforts that to prevent emerging contaminants or products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from entering the environment. Support funding for wastewater agencies to upgrade treatment processes to remove nutrients such as nitrogen from their discharges. Oppose “one size fits all” approaches to regulation of nutrients. Additionally, support investment in drought-resilient irrigation and reclaimed-water infrastructure to reduce potable water demand and improve long-term sustainability. Support funding for stormwater capture, bioswales, and green-infrastructure projects that improve water quality, enhance flood resilience, and support native and drought-tolerant plantings. Support the replacement of aging irrigation systems, modernize aquatics and recreation facilities for water- and energy-efficiency, and reduce runoff impacts to local waterways.
Voting Rights. Support the rights of all United States citizens to access the polls and vote. Support increased federal funding or legislation that augments election security and ensures public access to polling stations. Oppose efforts that would restrict voting rights or access.