TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a report on the April 2005 Federal Legislative Trip to Washington D.C.
DISCUSSION
From April 24 to April 26, 2005, the City Council's Federal Legislation and Environmental Affairs Committee traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for a multitude of important issues facing the City at the federal level. The Committee had two full days of meetings designed to inform and update the City's legislative delegation on the City's priorities and discuss strategy and next steps with staff to key legislators in Washington. The following is a brief report on the issues the
Committee addressed.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Provisions in the House Enerqv Bill
The Committee met with a number of key stakeholders who are directly involved with the section in the Energy Bill that would significantly reduce the authority of state and local agencies to participate in decisions regarding siting and permitting of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities. This included the Legislative Director for Representative Markey (D-MA), staff in Governor Schwarzenegger's Washington, D.C. office, the Majority Counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee,
and the Majority Counsel for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The Committee also met with the majority of the City's legislative delegation on this issue. In each of these meetings the City expressed its grave concern regarding the
language in the House Bill and our desire to rectify that language in the Senate version to clearly preserve local authority over LNG siting.
TEA-21 Reauthorization
The Committee had an opportunity to thank many of the people who have been working diligently on the TEA-21 Reauthorization bill. The House version of that bill includes a number of significant projects for the City, and the Committee discussed each high priority project while emphasizing the necessity of retaining them in the bill that will eventually go to the President. The Committee met with staff on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as our legislative delegation. In these meetings, the Committee reiterated the criticality of the Projects of National Significance language that is currently in the bill for $6 billion. The Committee emphasized the importance of the proposed $745 million for the 1-710 and Gerald Desmond Bridge to the economy and our residents and asked that it be included in
the bill during discussion in conference committee. Attachment A shows a list of each of the City's high priority projects and the amount they are funded for in the House version of the bill. These figures represent the federal portion of the project - each project would require a match of approximately 20 percent of the total project (50 percent for ITS projects).
Fiscal Year 2006 Appropriations Requests
The Committee was able to work directly with staff from our legislative delegation to clarify the City's six appropriation requests for the next federal fiscal year. Our delegation is currently in the process of submitting these to the appropriations
committees, so the Committee's meetings provided an opportunity to ensure that they had all the information they required to help obtain federal funding. Attachment B provides a list of these appropriation requests.
Homeland Securitv Funding
On Monday afternoon the Committee was able to meet with the Director of State and Local Government from the Department of Homeland Security. In this meeting the Committee was able to discuss the City's concern about dwindling Homeland
Security funding and the importance of preserving the Long Beach Urban Area Security Initiative as a stand-alone agency.
Armv Corps of Enqineers Funding for Los Ancleles River Dredging
The Committee was able to thank a key staff member in the Washington, D.C. office of the Army Corps of Engineers for her assistance in securing $400,000 to cut a temporary channel in the Los Angeles River to the Catalina Landing Terminal. As a
result of heavy rains and flooding in the federally-maintained channel, the Catalina Landing Terminal ceased normal operations in early January, which hindered the operations of Catalina Express. The Committee again expressed the urgent need to
acquire $5 million in funding to provide a full dredge and disposal of the estimated 440,000 cubic meters of material and maintain an open channel for the next five years. Due to continuing rains and high flow in the river, the temporary channel is again silting up creating difficulties for Catalina Express. Discussions with the Army Corps and our legislative delegation are ongoing to find a timely solution to this problem.
Federal Emerclencv Manaclement Aclencv (FEMA) Funding
The Committee discussed the City's appreciation for the two National Disaster Declarations from the President of the United States for both the January and February Winter Storms. These declarations allow the City to apply for federal assistance from the FEMA to compensate for damages incurred to public property.
The Committee also advocated for funds for individual assistance for the many homes that were severely impacted as part of these storms and discussed the federal options available with our legislative delegation and the Army Corps of Engineers.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
[Fiscal Impact]
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
[Respectfully Submitted,]