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9A Page 3 AS 2716 passed out of the Senate Labor Committee last week. The League is working with all public and private agencies to defeat the bill when it reaches Senate Appropriations, tentatively set for July 14. The California Chamber of Commerce will rally its individual chambers in a collaborative effort with local cities. City officials are urged to work with their staff to calculate cost impacts to their cities, and send letters of opposition on this bill. To view the League's letter, visit www.cacities.org/billsearch and plug in AS 2716 into the search function. 'Law Enforcement Program Funding' Continued from Page 1... House and Senate Judiciary Committee leaders will now begin discussions on the measure with the aim of producing a bill for the President's signature before Congress breaks for its month-long August recess. The House Appropriations Committee also approved its FY 2009 Commerce~Justice-Science appropriations bill. This bill contains $550 million for the Byrne/JAG program, which is $380 million more than the amount enacted for the program last Yel:ir. It also included $627 million for the Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) program, which is $40 million more than was enacted for the program last year. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the FY 2009 Commerce-Justice Science appropriations measure, which includes $581 million for the Byrne/JAG program and $600 million for COPS. u.s. Senate Considers Funding for Energy, Water Efficiency The House Appropriations Committee approved last week its version of a bill which would assist local governments to develop and implement a comprehensive energy efficiency strategy to help the nation meet its energy and climate protection goals. The FY 2009 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which includes $295 million for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG), was authorized at $2 billion annually for five years in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (PL 110-140). The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water will consider its version of the spending measure on July 8. Cities are urged to contact U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein to urge support forfull funding for EECBG in the bill, The League has posted a draft letter on its Web site that cities can consider using, along with the letter the League is sending to the Senator this week on this issue. Links to the letters are posted in this story on the "Federal Priorities" page ofthe League's Web site, www.cacities.orQ. Save the Date for Air Quality Workshops in July This month, city officials will have a chance to weigh in on the future of the state's air quality. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is holding three public workshops in July in preparation for drafting a 'scoping plan" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as required by AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The workshop dates and locations are: July 8 - South Coast Air Quality Management District, Diamond Bar July 14 - Fresno City Hall, Fresno July 17 _ California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters, Sacramento 3