HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 5024-12-2018A Resolution
NO. 5024-12-2018
ADOPTING THE CITY OF FORT WORTH'S
2019 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the 116th United States Congress will convene in January 2019; and
WHEREAS, during the fall of 2018, the City's Governmental Relations staff, in conjunction
with its federal legislative consultants, solicited input from various members of the Fort Worth City
Council, the City Manager's office, and department directors to identify programmatic and funding
needs that could, potentially, be resolved by Congressional or federal administrative actions; and
WHEREAS, recommendations for a federal legislative program were presented to the
Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, which made certain revisions and on November
13, 2018, approved a final version of the proposed federal program for presentation to and consideration
by the full City Council; and
WHEREAS, the proposed program was presented to the City Council via informal report and
the approval of this resolution will serve as City Council's adoption of its federal legislative program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT WORTH THAT:
The 2019 Federal Legislative Program outlined in the attached document is hereby adopted; and
2. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to distribute copies of the City's 2019
Federal Legislative program to members of Congress, to other cities, and to other interested parties; and
3. The appropriate City officials are authorized and directed to send letters of support or to meet
with federal officials to discuss the City's position on the attached initiatives; and
4. The City's Government Relations staff and the City's federal legislative consultants are
authorized and directed to take the appropriate actions to advance the 2019 Federal Legislative Program
before Congress, the Administration, and correspondi eral agencies.
ADOPTED this 11th day of December 2018.
AT7
By:
Mar
&Xr yD
T
FORT WORTHO)
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2019
Pursuing Community Development and Renewal
• Long-term Transportation Reauthorization/ "Highway Trust Fund"
• Flood Control Grants
• Education Opportunity Programs
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
• Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
• New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC)
• Second Chance Act
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP/WAP)
• HOME Grants
• Low Income Housing Tax Credits/Revitalization Grants
• Employment Non-discrimination Initiatives
• Healthy Communities Initiative
• Infant Mortality Funding
• HHS and Community Health
• Urban Park and Recreation Recovery (UPARR)
• Land and Water Conservation Fund Reauthorization/Full Funding
• Museum and Library Funding (IMLS Reauthorization)
• Energy/Sustainability Grants
• Flood Insurance Premiums
• Increased Funding Sources for Homeowner Lead Removal
Exploring Economic Development Opportunities
• Mixed Income Community Development Funding
• Municipal Debt Income Tax Exemption
• State and Local Tax Deductibility
• Collection of Remote Sales Taxes
• Internet and Wireless Tax Authority
• Municipal Bond Access and Liquidity (HQLA, Dodd Frank)
• Federal Aviation and Contract Tower Funding Increases
• Clean Energy and Natural Gas Initiatives
• Management and Collection for use on Local Rights of Way
• Wet Weather Facility
Fig for Public Safety Funding and Support
• Emergency Management Preparedness Grants (EMPG)
• Homeland Security Top 10 Re -Designation for Urban Areas Security
Initiative (UASI) funding
• CASA Funding (innovative weather satellite pilot)
• Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS)
• Broadband Spectrum for First Responders
• Opposition to Federal Collective Bargaining Legislation
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Federal Congressional Priorities for 2019
Fighting for Mobility Improvements
Summary: Traditional and alternative forms of transit are essential to
Fort Worth's current and planned investments in economic growth and
community development. Fort Worth is completing transformative
infrastructure improvements that will increase access to jobs and
encourage new residential and business developments. Support for
ongoing highway improvements, robust passenger rail, enhanced public
transportation systems, and alternative transit opportunities, including
bike trails, will be continuing priorities in the 1st Session of the 116th
Congress.
Super for Educational Development
Summary: Fort Worth's continued growth and economic success
depends in large part on our city's ability to deliver quality educational
opportunities for our future workforce. Families in our community
deserve access to programs that provide a diverse continuum of
educational resources with a particular emphasis on workforce
development, especially in STEM. Supporting high school programs that
encourage workforce preparedness, better equipping students for the
needs of today's job market, will remain a priority in our federal
engagement in 2019. Additionally, early childhood education programs
are critical to the long-term success of Fort Worth's school aged
children. Identifying opportunities to enhance and create programs that
increase quality access to early childhood education through "flexible,"
locally distributed federal funding dollars will be a key priority in the
116th Congress.
C
Supporting "Central City" Flood Control
Summary: Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing large cities in
America. The "Central City" flood control project is a key element in
managing and modernizing the "Fort Worth Federal Floodway" levee
system, essential to protecting our rapidly expanding population and
economy. The "Central City" flood control plan will protect people and
businesses north and east of our current downtown while providing
much needed economic security and certainty to these flood prone
communities. Continued modernization of the Trinity River levee
system will depend greatly on substantial and sustained federal funding
and administration support for the "Central City" flood control project
and is a key priority for 2019.
Supporting Our Local Defense Economy
Summary: Fort Worth's economic growth and development is
inextricably tied to the health of America's military and defense
industries. The Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NASJRB) and Fort
Worth's synergistic relationship with top military contractors in the
United States are models for many cities across our nation. Continuing
support for NASJRB and sustaining the growth of our defense
contracting industries will be a key priority. Additionally, Fort Worth is
home to a large and growing population of active duty and reservist
military personnel as well as veterans of all ages. Supporting those who
have served and continue to serve our country will be an ongoing
priority in the 116th Congress.
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Calling on Congress to Reform America's Broken
Immigration System
Summary: The City of Fort Worth is a large and growing community,
deeply rooted in diverse and multicultural Texas traditions. For more
than 140 years, laws governing and regulating immigration to our
country have been the exclusive responsibility of the United States
Congress. As a community that chooses to stand united, the City of
Fort Worth calls on the United States Congress to fulfill its duty to the
American public and pass immigration reforms in 2019 that strengthen
our nation's rule of law and sovereignty, beginning at our national
borders, while also treating all people, regardless of their origin, with
the dignity and respect our nation's shared values and principles of
democracy demand.
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