Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
APRIL 15, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: STATE AND FEDERAL REPORT
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE April 2021 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 April 1, 2021 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on April 15, 2021. Status of relevant pending legislation is monitored on the Metro Government Relations Legislative Matrix <http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DB_Attachments/210402_LA_Metro_Legislative_Matrix.pdf>, which is updated monthly.
There are several major issues I would like to focus on today - mindful that there are many other issues at play with respect to our Board-approved federal legislative program.
COVID - Federal Emergency Funding Package
We are pleased that the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021- a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill was signed into law by President Biden. The measure provides $30 billion to transit agencies nationwide - and approximately $1.6 billion from this measure will come in the form of formula funding to the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim UZA. In addition to this, the measure included over $275 million in New Starts funding for our transit projects with Full Funding Grant Agreements.
The American Jobs Plan
On March 31, 2021 President Biden travelled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he announced his intention to advance a multi-trillion infrastructure plan - the American Jobs Plan. Metro is deeply engaged with the White House and Congress to make sure the plan aligns with our Board-approved Federal Legislative Program.
President’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget
It is our understanding that the Biden Administration’s Office of Management and Budget is hard at work on their Fiscal Year 2022 Budget. We are encouraged that the Biden Administration is considering proposals to significantly enhance transportation funding in their non-binding Budget document - which we expect to be released this month.
Surface Transportation Authorization Bill:
As noted last month, we are continuing to reach out to House and Senate authorizers on the bills they intend to craft this year to replace the FAST Act. This outreach includes members of our Los Angeles County Delegation - but also includes national leaders on the committees of jurisdiction - like House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Chair Tom Carper of Delaware.
Metro intends to remain a leader when it comes to the national policy dialogue regarding replacing the FAST Act - whether the topic is Local Hire, the SEED School, the New Starts Program, Goods Movement funding, the Center for Transportation Excellence, Equity/Justice40 matters or our Rebuilding America initiative. The fact is that Metro is a national leader on many policy transportation initiatives that could be easily replicated across the nation through a future surface transportation authorization bill.
Fiscal Year 2022 Transportation Spending Bill
As the Biden Administration prepares to release their Fiscal Year 2022 Budget in the days ahead - Metro continues to work with the House and Senate appropriations committees to make sure that our federal priorities are included and fully funded in the transportation spending measures slated to be adopted later this fiscal year. This effort will include, but not be limited to, working with the relevant Committee Chairs in the House and Senate and with our Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation.
Return of Earmarks - Community Funded Projects and Surface Transportation Authorization Bill
As was shared with the Board of Directors last month - we are engaging with all members of the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation with respect to both the Community Project Funding process as it relates to the Fiscal Year 2022 transportation spending bill and the Member Designated Projects process as it relates to the upcoming surface transportation authorization bill.
INFRA Grant
Metro is working in concert with a number of local, regional and federal stakeholders to advance our INFRA grant request for the 57/60 Confluence Project. We are grateful for the strong cooperation we have gotten on this front from our Board of Directors and members of the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation.
Local Hire
And finally. Metro continues to be a national champion for restoring the Obama-era Local Hire Pilot Program. We remain optimistic that the Biden Administration will restore the local hire reforms that Metro worked hard - in tandem with Congresswoman Karen Bass - to bring about.
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 April 1, 2021 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on April 15, 2021. Status of relevant pending legislation is monitored on the Metro Government Relations Legislative Matrix <http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DB_Attachments/210402_LA_Metro_Legislative_Matrix.pdf>, which is updated monthly.
California State Legislative Process Update
The California State Legislature is currently in recess. March 25, 2021 marked the beginning of the Spring Recess; the Legislature will reconvene on April 5, 2021. Policy Committees are scheduling hearings to consider legislative proposals as they move forward through the legislative process. 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.
Update on Metro’s 2021 State Legislative Session Sponsored Bills
Metro’s Board of Directors approved the 2021 Legislative Program which included direction to sponsor several legislative proposals, including Senate Bill 44 (authored by Senator Allen) which would create a new CEQA litigation process for certain types of transit projects. The bill was referred to the Senate Environmental Quality and Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration. The bill passed by a vote of 7-0 in its first hearing on March 15, 2021 in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 13, 2021.
Assemblymember Bloom introduced Assembly Bill 917, Metro’s proposal to install front facing cameras on transit vehicles to help local municipalities enforce parking violations to improve our bus speeds. The bill was referred to the Assembly Transportation and Privacy and Consumer Protections Committees for consideration. The bill was expanded beyond the 2020 proposal (AB 2337) to include statewide authorization for transit agencies. Metro is partnering with the California Transit Agency and Alameda-Contra Costa County Transit District (AC Transit) on the bill. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee on April 5, 2021.
Assembly Luz Rivas introduced Assembly Bill 811, Metro’s sponsored proposal to clarify provisions of Metro’s procurement statute to accelerate project delivery. The bill was referred to the Assembly Committees on Local Government and Transportation for consideration. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Local Government Committee on April 14, 2021.
COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization for Metro’s Frontline Employees
Metro continued to engage regionally and in Sacramento through engaging with members of the Los Angeles legislative delegation and through December and January communications with the Governor regarding Metro’s request to prioritize the vaccine for frontline staff. Metro, along with a coalition of Southern California transit operators submitted a new letter to urge the state to consider transit operators as partners in the education industry to ensure that frontline transit employees are considered along education staff and students as vaccine distribution rolls out statewide. As a result of the strong advocacy of Metro and other transit agencies statewide - the Governor issued new state guidance to make the COVID-19 vaccine prioritization available to California’s public transit workers effective March 15, 2021. Pursuant to the new guidance - Public transit workers are eligible to receive the vaccination, including airport workers for commercial airlines, as they are at high risk and maintaining continuity of operations is critical.
LA County Delegation Engagement
Metro Government Relations staff will continue to work with the state legislative delegation to advance Metro’s priorities in Sacramento and locally in Senate and Assembly Districts. 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
