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<br />NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES ADOPTS 2007 ADVOCACY AGENDA <br /> <br />9A <br />Page 9 <br /> <br />In mid-January, the National League of Cities <br />(NLC) adopted its 2007 lobbying priorities for the <br />110th Congress. The priorities include telecom- <br />munications reform, immigration, and efforts to <br />secure continued federal funding to support local <br />initiatives including housing, transportation, and <br />public safety. These priorities will be the basis for <br />the program planning for NLC's 2007 Annual <br />Congressional City Conference in Washington, <br />D.C., on March 10-14. <br /> <br />NLC's goals are summarized below: <br /> <br />Telecomm unications <br /> <br />· Protecting local authority in any reform of <br />the Telecommunications Act, in Congress or by <br />the Federal Communications Commission, <br />stressing the need to provide access to all ser- <br />vices for all constituents while protecting the public <br />rights of way, as well as insuring that new tech- <br />nologies such as providing telephone service over <br />the Internet provides adequate linkages to 911 and <br />protects the public's safety. <br /> <br />Immigration <br /> <br />Ensuring that comprehensive immigration <br />reform takes into account the impact on cities and <br />towns and includes the local government perspec- <br />tive. <br /> <br />Federal Funding to Support Local Initiatives <br /> <br />· Ensuring that sufficient funding is included <br />in any appropriations measures involving federal <br />support for local activities such as the Community <br />Development Block Grant program and other <br />housing programs, crime programs, and transpor- <br />tation funding. <br /> <br />· Targeting federal attention on critical local <br />housing issues, including predatory lending, <br />foreclosure prevention, and the country's mort- <br />gage finance system. <br /> <br />Additionally, NLC officials recognized that <br />there are other state and federal issues that <br />require attention. These include: <br /> <br />· Developing a more holistic approach to <br />addressing public safety issues, including federal, <br />state and local strategies to address the current <br />surge in violent crime. <br /> <br />Participating as an equal partner in devel- <br />oping strategies for the next generation of trans- <br />portation funding to ensure they meet the multiple <br />demands of congestion, rehabilitation and multi- <br />modal systems facing municipalities. <br /> <br />Identifying and sharing promising practices <br />to promote sustainable resources and energy <br />efficiency, while seeking a responsible federal <br />energy policy. <br /> <br />Similarly, every year the League of California <br />Cities adopts its own set of federal priorities. For <br />a copy of the federal priorities adopted in Novem- <br />ber by the League board of directors, please visit <br />the League's Legislative Resources web page at <br />www.cacities.orgllegresources. <br /> <br />For more information, please contact League <br />Legislative Analyst Genevieve Morelos at <br />gmorelos(ci)cacities. org. <br /> <br />FIND A BILL, LEGISLATORS, <br />LEG COMMITTEE - OR ASK <br />LEAGUE LEG STAFF <br /> <br />Visit (and bookmark!) the League's <br />LeQislative Resources page <br />(www.cacities.org/legresources). You'll find <br />a roster and contact information for the <br />League's legislative staff; the online Bill <br />Search program, background materials on <br />lobbying your legislators, and more. <br /> <br />Visit the League's Official Website..www.cacities.org <br /> <br />PRIORITY FOCUS . PAGE 3 <br />January 26, 2007 . Issue #4 <br />