Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
APRIL 16, 2020
Subject
SUBJECT: STATE AND FEDERAL REPORT
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE March 2020 State and Federal Legislative Report.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Executive Management Committee
Remarks Prepared By Raffi Haig Hamparian
Government Relations Senior Director, Federal Affairs
Chair Butts and members of the Executive Management Committee, I am pleased to provide an update on several federal matters of interest to our agency. This report was prepared on March 6, 2019 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on March 19, 2020. Status of relevant pending legislation is monitored on the Metro Government Relations Legislative Matrix <http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DB_Attachments/200324%20-%20March%202020%20-%20LA%20Metro%20Legislative%20Matrix.pdf>, which is updated monthly.
Federal Fiscal Year 2021 Spending Bills
Following the Trump Administration unveiling their proposed Federal Fiscal Year 2021 Budget - Congress is now preparing to craft their versions of the transportation spending bills for the coming year. Specifically, the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations subcommittee has held a hearing with Secretary Chao as it continues to consider its spending bill. Likewise, the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations subcommittee is working on their spending measure. Consistent with our Board-adopted 2020 Federal Legislative Program - we are working to advocate our multi-modal priorities - including full funding for our transit and highway priorities.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
Last year, the U.S. House and Senate negotiated the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, which was signed into law by the President on December 20, 2019. The final language in the NDAA conference report mirrors legislation authored by Senator Cornyn (R-TX) and Congressman Rouda (D-CA) that limits the use of federal funds to procure rolling stock from China.
At present, we are waiting for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to issue the specifics on how they will interpret the NDAA rolling stock language adopted into law. Many lawmakers are pressing the USDOT to strictly enforce the language banning the use of federal funds for rolling stock from firms based in China.
Metro’s government relations team have and will continue to follow this matter closely and keep the Board apprised of any developments related to this matter.
Federal Grants
We continue to aggressively advocate for a series of federal grants being sought by our agency. These grants - which range from the BUILD, INFRA, Bus and Bus Facilities, Low or No Emissions grant programs - among others - offer a diverse array of opportunities to secure federal funding to leverage Metro’s local funding.
Local Hire Pilot Program
Last year, the Board adopted a support position for the Build Local, Hire Local Act - introduced by Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand that would permit local hiring practices on federally funded transportation projects.
We remain committed to working with Congress to reform current local hire prohibitions set by the Federal Government.
Conclusion
Chair Butts - I look forward to expanding on this report at the Executive Management Committee meeting with any new developments that may occur over the next several weeks.
Executive Management Committee
State Remarks Prepared by Michael Turner
Deputy Executive Officer, Government Relations
Chair Butts and members of the Executive Management Committee, I am pleased to provide an update on a number of state matters of interest to our agency. This report was prepared on March 6, 2020 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on March 19, 2020. Status of relevant pending legislation is monitored on the Metro Government Relations Legislative Matrix <http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DB_Attachments/200324%20-%20March%202020%20-%20LA%20Metro%20Legislative%20Matrix.pdf>, which is updated monthly.
California State Legislative Process Update
The California State Legislature is currently reviewing and considering passage of over 2,000 bills that were introduced since the start of the second year of the Legislative Session. March 2020 is the deadline for newly-introduced bills to be assigned by the
Rules Committee to be heard in the appropriate policy committee. Pursuant to the Board-approved 2020 State Legislative goals, staff has submitted bill language for a number of Metro-sponsored measures for consideration. Staff continues to review all bills daily that are introduced during the Legislative Session for impacts to the agency. Our process includes reviewing all introduced bills, identifying potential impacts to the agency, working with agency staff to review proposals and then bringing bills to the Board for consideration of a position.
State Discretionary Grant Updates
Project applications for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program were due on January 16, 2020 with awards planned in April 2020. Metro submitted three applications totaling over $275 million for consideration to fund the purchase of zero emission buses and charging infrastructure, Metrolink capital improvements and Green Line/Crenshaw Line light rail capacity improvements. Government Relations staff and advocacy team are working to continue to build support for the funding asks. Staff will keep the Board apprised on the State funding opportunities as they become available to support Metro’s aggressive 28 by 2028 and Measure M goals.
California State Senate Transportation Committee Changes
Senate Pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) announced that Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) would serve on the Senate Transportation Committee. They join LA delegation members Senator Susan Rubio (D-Covina) and Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) on the committee. We look forward to working with all of the members of the Senate Transportation Committee to ensure that Metro’s Board-approved 2020 State Legislative Program goals are achieved.
Joint Transportation and Environmental Quality Hearing
On Wednesday, March 4th, the California Senate held a joint informational hearing between the Transportation and Environmental Quality Committees, titled “Putting the Brakes on California’s Rising Transportation Emissions”. Among the speakers were CalSTA Secretary David Kim, and California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols. Vehicle electrification was highlighted as a key strategy for reducing emissions, as well as a focus on reducing vehicle miles traveled. Metro’s capital projects were cited during a discussion of speeding up infrastructure construction, particularly as it related to preparations for the 2028 Olympics. As a follow-up, staff are working with leadership in Sacramento to advance strategies to accelerate project delivery to address climate concerns.
LA Delegation Engagement
Metro held a legislative roundtable briefing on Friday, March 7, in order to update local, state, and federal offices on the status of key Metro projects and programs. Staff briefed the offices on construction related to the Regional Connector, as well as project updates on the NextGen Bus Plan, the Eastside Transit Corridor, and the upcoming MicroTransit pilot. These in-person briefings are held seasonally in order to have both an opportunity to brief staff from elected offices in person, as well as to hear comments and concerns directly from their constituents. Government Relations staff hosts these briefings, as well as district-specific briefings, to ensure that the members of the LA delegation have access to Metro’s most up-to-date project and program information on a regular basis.
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 Hearing on Ridership
Staff will be participating at an upcoming Assembly Budget Subcommittee Hearing on Transit Ridership in Sacramento on March 11, 2020. Staff will testify along other transit agencies and researchers from UC-ITS to address the industry’s declining ridership and what transit agencies are doing to reverse the trends. Staff will brief a number of legislative offices and members of the committee on Metro’s efforts to re-imagine the bus system through the NextGen study and how Metro is evaluating reduced fare programs to make transit more accessible to youth, college students and seniors.
Conclusion
Staff will expand on this report at the Executive Management Committee meeting with any new developments that occur over the next several weeks.
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Michael Turner, DEO, Government Relations, (213) 922-2122
Raffi Hamparian, Senior Director, Government Relations, (213) 922-3769
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Yvette Rapose, Chief Communications Officer, (213) 922-3777
