HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 5667-12-2022 A Resolution
NO. 5667-12-2022
ADOPTING THE CITY OF FORT WORTH'S
2023 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENDA
WHEREAS, the 118th United States Congress is scheduled to convene on January 3`d, 2023;
and
WHEREAS, during the fall of 2022, the City's Governmental Relations Office staff, in
conjunction with the City's federal legislative consultants, solicited input from the Mayor, City Council,
and City departments to identify programmatic and funding needs that could potentially be resolved by
Congressional or federal administrative action; and
WHEREAS, recommendations for the Federal Legislative and Administrative Agenda were
presented to the City Council Legislative Affairs Committee (LAC) for discussion and review and, on
November 15d', 2022, the LAC authorized forwarding the attached 2023 Federal Legislative and
Administrative Agenda to the full City Council for consideration and final approval; and
WHEREAS, the 2023 Federal Legislative and Administrative Agenda was presented to the City
Council through an Informal Report on December 6d', 2022 and the approval of this resolution will serve
as City Council's adoption of the 2023 Federal Legislative and Administrative Agenda.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS THAT:
1. The 2023 Federal Legislative and Administrative Agenda as 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 2023
Federal Legislative and Administrative Agenda to members of Congress, other cities, and other
interested parties; and
3. The appropriate City officials are authorized and directed to send letters of support or to meet
with legislators or 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 2023 Federal Legislative and
Administrative Agenda before Congress,the Administration, and corresponding federal agencies.
Adopted this 13t'day of December 2022.
ATTEST:
By:,7annaMe S.Goodall
JannH e S.G.Idllt fD11 15,2021 t4:51 CST, O
Jannette S. Goodall, City Secretary
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�X AS
FORT WORTH.,
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2023
Pursuing Community Development and Renewal
• 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)
• Expanded LIHEAP Eligibility Documentation Requirements: Voter ID
• HOME Grants
• Low Income Housing Tax Credits
• Housing Choice Vouchers: Budgetary Increases for FWHS
• Affordable House and Rental Assistance Programs
• Support and Expansion of Fair Housing
• Support for Whole Health Community Clinic Expansion
• Healthy Communities Initiative—Mortality and Life Expectancy
• Employment Non-discrimination Initiatives
• Energy and Sustainability Grants
• FEMA Designations and Flood Insurance Premiums
• Fund "non-FEMA Food Plane" Flooding Recovery
• Fund Universal Broadband Coverage—Building Access
• Support for existing and future broadband funding opportunities to
develop middle-mile and last-mile broadband infrastructure, as well
as subsidy programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
that help families acquire broadband service and internet devices.
• Urban Park and Recreation Recovery (UPARR)
• Land and Water Conservation Full Funding for Green Spaces
• Museum and Library Funding (IMLS Reauthorization)
• East Lancaster Transit Corridor Project
• Increased Funding Sources for Homeowner Lead Removal
• Stormwater and Sewer Remediation Funding
Exploring Economic Development Opportunities
• Home Ownership Focused 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
• Federal Aviation and Contract Tower Funding Increases
• Management and Collection for use on Local Rights of Way
• Wet Weather Facility
• Juvenile Entrepreneurship Funding
• Federal Assistance with Invasive Species (Egret Population)
• Support for Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act
• Youth Internship Initiative
Fighting for Public Safety Funding and Support
• Emergency Services Funding
• Oversight Funding for Procedural Justice, Implicit Bias, Reconciliation,
and Community Policing
• Emergency Responder Funding for Prevention and Care of Dangerous
Exposure Related Illnesses
• 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 2023
Fighting for Mobility & Connectivity 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 mobility and connectivity improvements—including support for
more favorable federal, state, and local grant formula requirements, money
to elevate 1-35 at critical junctions, increased capacity in key corridors, such
as Lancaster Ave , robust high-speed passenger rail that spans the city,
expansion of TEXRAIL to additional stops in SW Fort Worth, including the
medical district, enhanced public transportation systems, and alternative
transit opportunities will be continuing priorities in the 15t Session of the
118th Congress.
Support for Educational and Career 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
youth development initiatives and programs that provide a diverse
continuum of educational resources with particular emphasis on workforce
development, especially in STEM/R&D. 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 2023. Additionally, early childhood education programs,
nutritional development, and access to health services are critical to the
long-term success of Fort Worth's school aged children. Identifying
opportunities to enhance and create programs that increase access to
quality early childhood education and care through "flexible," locally
distributed federal funding dollars will continue to be a key priority in the
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118th Congress. Also, the City is committed to partnering with the Texas
A&M University System on the expansion of the A&M campus in Fort
Worth.
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 additional and
sustained federal funding and administration support for the "Central City"
flood control project and is a key priority for 2023.
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 as well as
sustaining the growth of our defense contracting industries through federal
2024 budget and appropriations support 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. Honoring and
supporting those who have served and continue to serve our country
through federal support for veteran owned enterprises, increased veterans
services, and the establishment of a US Veterans Memorial in Fort Worth
will be a key priority in the 118th 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 2022 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.
1 Chy Lung v.Freeman,92 U.S.275(1875)
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