Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MAY 20, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: STATE AND FEDERAL REPORT
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE May 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 May 6, 2021 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on May 20, 2021. Status of relevant pending legislation is monitored on the Metro Government Relations Legislative Matrix <http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DB_Attachments/210506_5_May_2021_LA_Metro_Legislative_Matrix.pdf>, which is updated monthly.
There are several specific 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.
The American Jobs Plan
Our agency continues to be aggressively engaged with respect to the American Jobs Plan that President Biden unveiled on March 31, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This multi-trillion infrastructure plan - would if adopted into law - provide over $571 billion in roadway, transit and mobility projects and programs. Metro will remain 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
We expect the Biden Administration’s Office of Management and Budget to expand on the “skinny budget” they released earlier this year with a more complete budget proposal - with line by line funding details. We continue to be encouraged that the Biden Administration is considering proposals to significantly enhance transportation funding in their non-binding Budget document.
Surface Transportation Authorization Bill:
We are encouraged that Chairman DeFazio of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has indicated that his committee will markup a multi-year surface transportation authorization bill later this month. The bill is likely to closely track the Invest in America Act that the Chairman introduced last year, and which was adopted by the House. We will continue to remain engaged with members of the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation and others to ensure that our Board-approved priorities are reflected in the final House bill. We will also remain engaged with Senator Padilla,, a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and that committee’s Chair Tom Carper of Delaware - when they markup the highway title of the Senate surface transportation authorization bill later this month.
As I have previously shared, 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 - Return of Earmarks - Community Funded Projects and Surface Transportation Authorization Bill
As was shared with the Board of Directors earlier this year - we have engaged 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. On Friday - April 30, 2021 we issued a Legislative Alert outlining all the transportation-related requests made by members of the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation as it relates to both Community Project Funding requests and Member Designated Projects.
INFRA Grant
Metro continues to work in concert with 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
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.
Freedom to Move Act:
We are very pleased that both U.S. Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) have re-introduced the Freedom to Move Act - that they initially offered in the 116th Congress. The bills (S.1172 and H.R. 2287) would - if adopted into law - direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a grant program to support efforts to provide fare-free transit service. The Metro Board has voted to back this legislation and it is our intent to see language from this bill included in an appropriate federal measure that will be signed into law by the President this year.
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 May 6, 2021 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on May 20, 2021. Status of relevant pending legislation is monitored on the Metro Government Relations Legislative Matrix <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flibraryarchives.metro.net%2FDB_Attachments%2F210506_5_May_2021_LA_Metro_Legislative_Matrix.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Camadeoa%40metro.net%7Ca8c4a280a7064650173108d9118c12b6%7Cab57129bdbfd4cacaa77fc74c40364af%7C0%7C0%7C637560115574187997%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=X%2BvtDCcaZ8ShRN5u5tAv1RgC8TtvwKejEn9jlrAhe1I%3D&reserved=0>, which is updated monthly.
California State Legislative Process Update
The California State Legislature reconvened after a short spring recess to continue bill hearings in policy committees and floor sessions. As fiscal bills are approved by their respective policy committees, they head to the Appropriations Committee for consideration. Some bills are held in suspense on the Appropriations Committee docket and will be considered and dispensed no later than May 20, 2021. Non fiscal bills are continuing to move through house of origin floor hearings. Staff continue to monitor bill amendments that include substantive language changes that could potentially impact Metro’s programs and projects. Staff will also continue to engage on legislation that aligns or directly conflicts with Metro’s Board-adopted 2021 State Legislative Program goals and will communicate those priorities and positions to the state legislature accordingly.
Update on the California Climate Action Plan for Transportation (CAPTI)
This month, staff will provide an update to the Board of Directors related to the state’s Climate Action Plan for Transportation (CAPTI). This plan details the state’s efforts for developing and adopting strategies and investment plans for transportation funding that aim to advance the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. Public stakeholder involvement continues as the draft has been released, formal comments are due by May 19, 2021. Staff is engaging on a regional and statewide level to ensure that the Board’s priorities for transportation investment, equity, congestion pricing, clean freight/goods movement and sustainability are included in the final version of the plan.
State Budget Update
The Legislature has communicated its priorities for the next phase of the state budget process, which includes the Governor’s issuance of the May Revision. Staff anticipates that in the May Revision to the State Budget - the Governor will outline a number of priorities for the general fund surplus aided in part by federal relief funds. The Legislature’s priorities and final approval of the budget updates could provide some added infusion of much-needed transportation investments. Consistent with established Board priorities, Metro has formally communicated funding priorities for a budget surplus to address investments in capital projects, homelessness outreach, zero-emission bus conversion, transit improvements and access, and soundwalls in disadvantaged communities. Staff will continue to advocate for the Board’s priorities to be included in the discussions as they continue amongst the LA County delegation and leadership in Sacramento.
Update on Metro’s 2021 State Legislative Session Sponsored Bills
Pursuant to the Board-approved 2021 legislative program goals, staff continues to advocate for Metro’s priorities to be included in legislative efforts in Sacramento. Below is a recap of some of the ongoing legislative efforts on specific measures.
Metro continues to advance three sponsored bills in the legislature:
• Senate Bill 44 by Senator Ben Allen (D- Santa Monica), would streamline the CEQA judicial review process for certain environmental leadership transit projects. SB 44 has passed the Senate Transportation and Senate Judiciary Committees and will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 20.
• Assembly Bill 811 by Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-Arleta) would allow Metro to accelerate project delivery utilizing the design-build and other alternative project delivery methods by eliminating a requirement that the Board find by a two-thirds vote that the alternative method of project delivery is efficient. AB 811 passed the Assembly Local Government Committee and Transportation Committee and is currently on the Assembly floor.
• Assembly Bill 917 by Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D- Santa Monica) would allow transit agencies to install front-facing cameras on buses to collect images of parking violations in bus-only lanes and at bus stops. AB 917 passed the Assembly Transportation Committee and Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee and is currently on the Assembly floor.
Update on Supported bills:
• Senate Bill 671 by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D- Long Beach), was formally supported by the Metro Board during the March board cycle, was passed by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. SB 671 would require the CTC, in coordination with other state agencies, to develop a Clean Freight Corridor Efficiency Assessment and incorporate the recommendations from that assessment into their freight infrastructure programs to support the deployment of zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
• Senate Bill 17 by Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), which would create a statewide Office of Racial Equity and was formally supported by the Metro Board in April, has since passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 20.
• Metro has also communicated support for Assembly Bill 43 (Friedman) and Assembly Bill 550 (Chiu). These bills would amend provisions related to traffic safety with regard to speed limits and speed enforcement on city streets. Both measures align with Metro’s support for Vision Zero improvements to make streets safer, improve active transportation and eliminate traffic-related pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and deaths. AB 43 (Friedman) is currently on the Assembly - Third Reading file and AB 550 (Chiu) is in Assembly Appropriations Committee.
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) 418-3154
