Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
JANUARY 21, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: STATE AND FEDERAL REPORT
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE State and Federal Legislative Report.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Executive Management Committee
Remarks Prepared by Raffi Haig Hamparian
Government Relations Senior Director, Federal Affairs
Chair Garcetti 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 December 28, 2020 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on January 21, 2021. Status of relevant pending legislation is monitored on the Metro Government Relations Legislative Matrix <http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DB_Attachments/201230_LA_Metro_Legislative_Matrix.pdf>, which is updated monthly.
Federal Emergency Funding Package
In late December, Congress was able to reach agreement on a package of additional relief funding targeted at offsetting the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The President signed the bill on December 27, 2020. Included in H.R. 133 was welcomed funding to support transit agencies. Specifically, $13.27 billion will be distributed via formula similar to how the funding was allocated through the CARES Act that Congress approved in the spring of 2020 to help maintain transit operations throughout the nation. California is expected to receive roughly $1.9 billion of the $13 billion included in the bill. Metro’s Planning department is preparing a report to the Board on Metro and LA County’s portion. $10 billion was also included in this section of H.R.133 for State Departments of Transportation.
Surface Transportation Reauthorization
On June 4, 2020, Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced H.R. 7095 (Now H.R.2) - Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act. The five-year reauthorization bill would replace the FAST Act, which will expire on September 30th, 2021. The INVEST in America Act contains many of Metro’s Board-approved federal priorities, such as a new freight funding program that is aimed at mega-projects. This new program brings back to life the Projects of National and Regional Significance grant program that was originally authorized under SAFETEA-LU. The bill streamlines the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grant Program by speeding approval of projects that seek less than 60% federal funding. Also included in the proposed bill are changes to incentivize more domestic manufacturing of railcars and buses. Lastly, the bill invests in frontline transportation workforce training and brings back the Local Hire Pilot Program that Metro worked with the Obama Administration and Congresswoman Karen Bass to create. The Metro Board approved a SUPPORT position for the bill during the June Board Meeting and a letter from our CEO indicating the agency’s support was sent to Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation.
The INVEST in America Act was incorporated into a larger infrastructure package - The Moving Forward Act - which passed through the House of Representatives and is awaiting action by the U.S. Senate. While the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has approved their highway portion of a five-year reauthorization bill, the other committees of jurisdiction have taken no action to complete their portions including transit and rail titles.
Look ahead to the next Congress, a new or replica bill will need to introduced and negotiated in Congress before October 1, 2021 in order to authorize transportation programs. At this time, it is unclear what the Biden Administration’s plan is for prioritizing an infrastructure package that would likely include a long-term reauthorization of transportation programs. Metro is ready and eager to work closely with the new Administration and our Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation on this topic to deliver robust funding and improved federal transportation policy.
Federal Fiscal Year 2021 Spending Bills
As a part of H.R. 133 - the end of year spending package just approved - included funding for the remainder of Federal Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriation bills. The Fiscal Year 2021 spending bill includes $13 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, which is $47 million above Fiscal Year 2020 enacted levels and $255 million above Trump Administration’s budget request. The New Starts program (Section 5309) would receive $2 billion in the bill, which is $36 million more than Fiscal Year 2020 enacted levels and $125 million more than the Administration requested. The legislation includes approximately $49 billion for the Federal Highway Administration, which is $166 million lower than Fiscal Year 2020 enacted levels and $1.5 billion lower than the Trump Administration included in their annual budget.
Conclusion
Chair Garcetti - 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 Garcetti 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 December 30, 2020 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on January 21, 2020 Status of relevant pending legislation is monitored on the Metro Government Relations Legislative Matrix <http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DB_Attachments/201230_LA_Metro_Legislative_Matrix.pdf>, which is updated monthly.
California State Legislative Process Update
The California State Legislature will convene the 2021-22 Legislative Session on January 11, 2021, after a week-long delay due to COVID-19 concerns. The Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) issued a statement on December 18, 2020 announcing that the Assembly and Senate moved the date of the return to session to January 11, 2020 to keep staff and members safe and in following public health guidelines. The session will begin with a number of hearings, including the Assembly Budget Committee which will hear an overview of the California State Budget for 2021-22.
California State Legislative Updates
As of December 19, 2020 there have been over 200 bills introduced by the Assembly and Senate since the start of the first year of the 2021-22 legislative session on December 7, 2020. Staff is continuing to review bills as they are introduced and working internally with Metro departments to evaluate impacts on Metro’s programs and projects. Over 70 bills are spot or intent bills that will be amended to include substantive proposals at a later date. Pursuant to the Board adopted legislative program goals, Metro staff continue to evaluate legislative proposals and advocate on behalf of the agency’s priorities in Sacramento.
Senate and Assembly Leaders Announce New Policy Committee Chairs
California Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) have announced legislative committee assignments for the 2021-22 session. The Senate and Assembly Transportation Committees will, for the first time in recent history, both be led by women and by members of the LA County Delegation. Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) will assume leadership of the Transportation Committees for the upcoming session. Other members of the LA County Delegation will resume or take on leadership in the policy committees, including Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-Arleta), who will be the new Chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. Metro would like to congratulate the new and returning Chairs of the policy committees and staff looks forward to working with them to advance transportation goals and accelerate Metro's projects in LA County.
COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization for Metro’s Frontline Employees
In early December, Metro CEO Phil Washington communicated to the Governor and key leaders in Sacramento the need to prioritize vaccine distribution for Metro staff, specifically citing the need for the front-line employees who continue to serve the public on a daily basis. Transit employees are essential and their work is critical to providing the transportation services that support other essential industries and workforces. Staff will continue to work with the California Transit Association’s coalition of transit agencies across the state and the members of the LA County delegation to advocate for funding, policies to support recovery and priority for PPE distribution and the vaccines.
LA County Delegation Engagement
Metro Government Relations staff held a legislative roundtable briefing in December to update newly elected and re-elected state and federal offices on the status of key Metro projects and programs and the agency response to COVID-19. Historically, these briefings are held in-person, in order to have both an opportunity to brief staff from elected offices, as well as to hear comments and concerns directly from their constituents. Due to current measures in place statewide and nationwide, Government Relations staff has moved to a virtual model, hosting the updates via an online video meeting platform. These briefings, as well as district-specific briefings, will continue on a regular basis 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.
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
