* NLC
NATIONAL CONGRESSIONAL March
LEAGUE
OF CITIES
CITY CONFERENCE
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION AND PRE-CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES MARCH 24-2S, 2023 26-28
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Capitol Hill Advocacy Day Messaging Guide
Congress has provided an unprecedented opportunity for local governments to access federal funds to invest in areas like infrastructure improvement, local economic recovery, climate and energy initiatives and more to improve the quality of life for their residents. It is imperative to thank your member of Congress for supporting local access to federal funds and to share how your city, town or village is implementing or planning to implement programs authorized by the following bills: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, American Rescue Plan Act, Chips and Science Act, Inflation Reduction Act.
Make Government Work for Small Communities
About 76% of America's cities, towns and villages have a population below 5,000. These communities are stakeholders in solving national challenges and continue to increase their capacity to utilize federal programs. They must continue to be eligible and prepared for federal grants so the benefits of federal programs and policies reach all of America's communities. • Support the Simplifying Grants Act of 2023 [H.R. 914]: This bill authorizes the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to work with the head of each granting agency to simply the grants process, making it easier for small and rural communities to access federal funds. It has been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. Sponsor: Rep.
Scott Franklin (R-FL-18).
Build Safe and Healthy Communities
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act provided significant investments to strengthen infrastructure, address climate change and make communities more resilient.
• Support The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act of 2023: This legislation sensibly unlocks 100% federal safety program funds to empower local governments to build safer, more complete connections for biking and walking infrastructure. Sponsors:
Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Raskin (D-MD).
• Support The Railway Safety Act of 2023 [S.576]: This bipartisan bill address rail safety in response to the tragic derailment in East Palestine, OH, earlier this year. NLC supports passage of rail safety actions by Congress which would ensure safer rail operations, reduce derailments and reduce blocked crossings in communities. Sponsors: Sen. Brown (D-OH), Sen. Vance (R-OH), Sen. Casey (D-PA), Sen. Rubio (R-FL), Sen. Fetterman (D-PA), Sen.
Hawley (R-MO).
• Support Long-Term NFIP Reauthorization: Since 2017, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has experienced 25 short-term extensions and three lapses. Passing a long term reauthorization of the NFIP is critical to ensuring the insurance program is available to protect homeowners and businesses from the risk of flooding for several years to come. We ATTACHMENT #2
urge Congress to pass a long-term reauthorization of the NFIP to prevent the potential loss of 5 million flood insurance policies and current and future policyholders losing confidence in the program. NLC recently submitted comments to the House Financial Services Committee for their hearing on the reauthorization of this program.
• Support Reauthorization of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) [H.R. 1520]: The EECBG program is a vital tool used by cities, counties and states throughout the U.S. to promote energy efficiency, increase energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Reauthorizing this program will provide much needed resources to increase and expand state and local sustainability and climate action. The stability of funding is almost as important as the funding level, since the predictability of funding enables cities to build capacity and plan for future investments and sustained programs. Sponsors: Rep.
Stanton (D-AZ), Rep. Veasey (D-TX), Rep. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Van Drew (R-NJ).
Prevent Federal Overreach of Local Governments
Federal preemption of local authority threatens the ability of local leaders to balance budgets and maintain key public services. In recent years, limitations on the ability of local governments to negotiate fair communications franchises, govern the placement of telecommunications equipment on city streets and poles and to own and operate broadband infrastructure and services have encroached on local efforts to close the digital divide. • Support the Protecting Community Television Act [S. 3361/H.R. 907]: This bill clarifies that the franchise fees cable companies provide to local governments only include monetary assessments, not in-kind contributions. It rolls back harmful preemptive Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation from 2019 that allowed cable companies to deduct the market value of in-kind franchise obligations, which benefit schools, public safety buildings, and public, educational, and government (PEG) channels, also known as community television stations. Sponsors: Sen. Markey (D-MA), Sen. Baldwin (D-WI), Rep. Eshoo (D CA), Rep. DeFazio (D-OR).
Support Local Economic Growth and Opportunity
Economic development is achieved by investment in the economic, human, and physical infrastructure in an economic region, and should improve the capacities of local economies to thrive and support municipal services.
• Support the Farm Bill Reauthorization: Congress is expected to reauthorize the Farm Bill this year before it expires on September 30, 2023. NLC advocates for Congress' continued support for programs and policies in this legislation essential to local economic success and quality of life through important titles such as Rural Development Title, Nutrition Title and the Conservation Title.
• Support Innovation with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization:
Congress is holding hearings in the House and Senate to reauthorize the nation's FAA programs. Airports are critical to America's communities and new Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) options are ramping up across the country. Through this reauthorization, we ask Congress to modernize aviation funding, increase national access to aviation through essential air service, plan for safe integration of AAM and drones with communities, and decrease conflict and risks with modern air space management.
Spread the word - share photos from your meetings on social media! @leagueofcities #CCCNLC #CCC23
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