By Angelina Panettieri
Council Member Jeff Moore, Longmont, Co. meets with Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
City leaders from around the nation came to Washington this week to push for greater investment in infrastructure, as part of NLC’s recognition of Infrastructure Week. NLC President Ralph Becker, in addition to leaders from NLC’s policy and advocacy committees and constituency groups, visited Washington this week. Local leaders met with congressional offices and federal agencies to discuss the current funding crisis facing transportation, as well as federal investment in local water and telecommunications infrastructure.
Community and Economic Development Committee Chair Michael Wojcik, council member, Rochester, Minn.; Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee Chair Robert Bauman, alderman, Milwaukee, Wis.; Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chair Cindy Lerner, mayor, Pinecrest, Fla.; and Information Technology and Communications Committee Chair Jeff Moore, council member, Longmont, Co. met in Washington with Senate and House committees, as well as representatives from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and Federal Communications Commission.
NLC Advocates, L-R from top: Commissioner Andy Amoroso, Lake Worth, Fla.; Mayor T. Oscar Trevino, North Richland Hills, Texas; Counil Member Tom Lombard, North Richland Hills, Texas; Carolyn Coleman, Director of Federal Advocacy, NLC; Council Member Tito Rodriguez, North Richland Hills, Texas; Wesley Young, Vice President Public Affairs, Local Search Association; Council Member Joyce Sheperd, Atlanta, Ga.; Council Member LaWana Mayfield, Charlotte, N.C.; Clarence Anthony, Executive Director and CEO, NLC; Council Member Doris McConnell, Shoreline, Wash.; Rohan Patel, Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, the White House; Vice Mayor Suzanne Chan, Fremont, Calif.; Council Member Gilbert Wong, Cupertino, Calif.; Angelina Panettieri, Senior Associate Grassroots Advocacy, NLC; Rikka Batulan, Principal Associate Constituency Group Programs, NLC
Later in the week, a group of leaders representing each of NLC’s constituency groups visited Capitol Hill in a joint effort to advocate for a new transportation bill and e-fairness legislation. Leaders of the Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Local Officials; Hispanic Elected Local Officials; National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, and Women in Municipal Government organizations met with over thirty congressional offices across twelve states in one day.
Advocates across the United States also joined in the advocacy effort on May 13, as they called and emailed legislators in Washington as part of NLC’s Infrastructure Week virtual advocacy day. If you missed the virtual advocacy day, you can still use NLC’s online tools to call your members of Congress or send them an email about the need for a new federal transportation program.
Council Member Gilbert Wong and Senator Dianne Feinstein meet on Capitol Hill
“This week, NLC injected a sense of urgency that had been sorely lacking from the federal debate, thanks to the messages carried by local leaders like Mayor Becker, NLC Policy and Advocacy Committee Chairs, and those on NLC’s constituency groups,” said NLC Executive Director and CEO Clarence Anthony. “The contrast between progress at the local level and inaction at the federal level has never been clearer. It’s time for Congress to catch up.”
For photos, video, and more from Infrastructure Week, follow NLC on Facebook.