Laserfiche WebLink
<br />9A <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />. Addressing climate change; (htto:llwww.cacities.ora/resource files/27844.Federal <br />Enerav-Environment Draft 9mar09.odf) <br />. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program <br />(htto:/lwww.cacities.orq/resource files/27842.NSP Round 2 criteria.odf) <br />. Safe. Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act-LU (SAFETEA-LU) <br />reauthorization (htto:/lwww.cacities.ora/resource files/27843.SAFETEA-LU Reauth.odD; <br />and <br />. Municipal bond market assistance to local governments. <br />(htto:llwww.cacities.ora/resource files/27841. Municioal Bonds.odD <br /> <br />The League's federal priority issue papers used during the meetings are available at <br />www.cacities.ora/federalstimulus. <br /> <br />The NLC 2009 Legislative Priorities can also be found online at www.nlc.ora. <br /> <br />Emphasis on Transportation Reauthorization <br /> <br />The League and NLC are urging Congress to continue support for federal transportation <br />programs that support bridges, roads, and transit with dedicated and direct funding to local <br />governments. The League encouraged our representatives to recognize that California is taking a <br />holistic approach in planning and transportation decisions. This new approach requires flexibility <br />in funding. <br /> <br />The California Congressional Delegation also hosted a roundtable on SAFETEA-LU <br />reauthorization. With SAFETEA-LU reauthorization being a League priority. the roundtable <br />provided an important venue for California city officials to speak with their representatives about <br />what the federal government is doing to support local transportation priorities. <br /> <br />Reps. David Dreier (R-26th), Ken Calvert (R-44th), Laura Richardson (D-37th), Ed Royce (R- <br />40th), and Darrellssa (R-49th) participated in the roundtable. <br /> <br />Next Step <br /> <br />The League will continue to work with NLC and through the efforts of its Washington. D.C. office <br />to continue to advance these and other legislative priorities as well as respond to federal <br />legislation impacting cities. <br /> <br />CARRA Conference' Continued from Page 1... <br /> <br />Vice President Biden remarked that the passage of ARRA was just the first step and that the <br />implementation is the hard part. He thanked local government leaders for their work implementing <br />ARRA. Biden encouraged local officials to have political courage in making the decisions on <br />where to spend the funds, and to focus on projects - such as energy efficiency projects - that will <br />move the country forward. He stressed the importance of picking projects that not only passed <br />the legal test but also the "smell test." <br /> <br />The day began with a briefing by Earl Devaney, chairman of the Recovery Act Transparency and <br />Accountability Board (RATA). Devaney shared that RATA is currently focused on preventing <br />fraud and abuse as the agency gets established. Asking local governments to be flexible, he <br />commented that his staff is aware that there are a lot of Questions about audit and reporting <br />requirements and will be ready to assist local governments as they encounter problems. <br /> <br />This is the first time that the federal government has taken on a goal of full transparency and <br />warned the guidelines will continually evolve to account for situations that come up. The 11 <br />inspector generals who comprise the board will undoubtedly need additional data. Devaney also <br />suggested that it would be beneficial if state and local governments set up their own <br />accountability Web sites. The State of California has already done so, and it can be found at <br />WWW.recoverv.ca.QOv. <br /> <br />3 <br />