The advocacy mission, more than 40 city officials strong, featured briefings, meetings and strategy sessions about how Congress and the Administration can partner with local governments on efforts to promote economic recovery and preserve funding for key job creation programs, such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
The two-day event began with a legislative briefing with NLC’s Federal Relations team, followed by a meeting with top Administration officials, including White House Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs David Agnew.
Agnew shared insights into the President’s priorities and forthcoming budget, and assured that the President is working hard to ensure that cities and towns of all sizes will have resources available to fund job-creating transportation, infrastructure and community development projects.
The group also took its message to Capitol Hill for meetings with the Florida congressional delegation. Led by Florida League of Cities President Joy Cooper, mayor of Hallandale Beach, and FAST Chair Frank Ortis, mayor of Pembroke Pines and an NLC Advisory Council member, the group met with the offices of Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, as well as Reps. Sandy Adams, Corinne Brown, Kathy Castor, Ted Deutch, Alcee Hastings, Connie Mack, John Mica, Richard Nugent, Bill Posey, David Rivera, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Dennis Ross, Steve Southerland, Cliff Stearns, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Daniel Webster, Allen West, Frederica Wilson and Bill Young.
During the Hill and White House meetings, FAST members urged Congress and the President to partner with cities to create jobs and to invest in maintaining and upgrading our transportation infrastructure system.
The city leaders offered compelling and concrete examples of how such programs have created jobs and improved the quality of life in their communities.
“This year’s trip was very productive,” Mayor Ortis said. “It was fast-paced and focused on funding for CDBG and transportation reauthorization. We know we make a difference.”