TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file report on travel to Washington, D.C., as Chair of the Federal Legislation Committee, February 23 -- 25, 2009.
DISCUSSION
On February 23-25,2009, I traveled to Washington, D.C. as Chair of the Federal Legislation Committee to discuss federal issues of importance with our delegation and other members of Congress.
Attached is a list of meetings we participated in while back in Washington, D.C. Among the issues discussed were the following:
• Funding for the City's Fiscal Year 2009 and 2010 Appropriation Requests
• Accessing the recently passed Federal Stimulus bill
• Accessing the Troubled Assets Relief Program for the City's Lehman Brothers Holding, Inc. commercial paper loss
• Opposition to designating areas in Long Beach as FEMA residual flood risk areas
• Opposition to granting federal immunity to the Online Travel Companies from remitting hotel occupancy taxes to local governments.
• Continued funding of the C-17 production line
• Other issues on the Federal Legislative Agenda
The trip was productive in maintaining strong personal connections with our federal representatives and communicating the City's legislative priorities. The Federal Legislation Committee will continue to closely· monitor issues of federal importance and work with the City's government affairs staff and our federal legislative representatives to advance the City Council's 2009 federal legislative priorities.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gary DeLong
3rd District Councilmember