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8A Page 11 SB 3(33 wilt next be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee, on Tuesday, May 29. It's difficult to predict what will happen with the biN. There is a good chance that it will move to the suspense fife, since the measure has sign'~"icant cost impacts that have not yet been addressed, but that outcome is far from certain at this point. Prop. 1B Update: Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees Differ on Funding Allocation Recommendations The Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees on Transportation met this week to make their recommendations for the allocation of the $2 billion included in Proposition 1 B for sties and counties (split evenly at $1 billion each)_ While the League of California Cities is advocating for the full $1 biRian to cities in FY 2007-08, both subcommittees had very different recommendations. The Senate recommendation was to provide $400 million split evenly between cities and counties. This represents }ust 20 percent of alias' guaranteed allocation. The Assembly recommendation was consistent with the Governor's May Budget Revision, which proposed an allocation of $600 miif~n, split evenly between cities and counties. Because the subcommittees disagree, the issue was referred to the Joint Budget Conference Committee (comprised of members of both Assembly and Senate subcommittees), to resonate the differences on the aNocation question. 't'he Joint Budget Conference Committee is tentatively scheduled to begin deliberations on Friday, June 1. The League continues to advocate that cities have projects ready to go. Accelerating payments to cities to fund these projects will meet the goals of both the Governor and legislative leadership. Et also keeps faith with the voters by delivering much needed transportation improvemen#s to every community in Cal'ifomia. Any delay in receiving bond funds wiA resuR in project delays. Additionally, minimizing appropriations levels will likely lessen the purchasing power of the bonds and it wits limit the ability to construct many mid and large-size projects. Take Action! The league is asking alias to contact the Governor's office to request the full $1 Million appropriation in FY 2007-08. A sample letter is located at www.cacities.orq/infrastructure. Federal Update: Rep. Albert Wynn Introduces H,R. 2447 -the Energy and Environment Block Grartt Act of 2007 H.R. 2447, the °Energy and Environment Block Grant Act of 2007,' was introduced this week by Representative Albert Wynn, D-Md. This bill supports the efforts of cities, counties and states to curb greenhouse gas emissions with critical funding to help increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption. The League has sent in a letter of support to the House and Energy and Commerce Committee urging co-sponsorship of Wynn. This legislation is based on the U.S. Conference of Mayor's (USCM} priority recommendation in the USCM 10 Point Plan: Strong Cities, Strong Families far a Strong America. H.R, 2447 proposes the following: • Establishment of an Energy and Ernironment Block Grant program at the Department of Energy, patterned after HUD's successfu! Community Development Block Grant • Building upon successful local and state efforts to help U.S. increase energy efficiency and reduce energy use to curb greenhouse gases