Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MARCH 18, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: STATE AND FEDERAL REPORT
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE March 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 March 1, 2021 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on March 18, 2021. Status of relevant pending legislation is monitored on the Metro Government Relations Legislative Matrix, which is updated monthly.
There are six 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
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1319 - the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021- a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that the Senate is now poised to act on in the coming weeks. The transportation section of the measure adopted today would provide $30 billion for transit agencies nationwide and $50 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency for major disasters. Included in the measure adopted today is a provision that would provide $1.25 billion for existing New Starts projects. The measure also includes $8 billion for airports and $1.5 billion for Amtrak. Metro is deeply appreciative for the strong support this COVID-19 relief bill enjoyed among many members of the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation. Metro will continue to be fully engaged with the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation to ensure that the final COVID relief bill signed into law by President Biden includes funds for our agency and ...
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