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Home My WebLink AboutFederal Legislative Update CC Presentation 0102242023-2024 Federal Lobbying Report & Update for the City of Virginia Beach, VA Becker DC Team January 02, 2024 National Law & Lobbying Firm with over 50 years of experience. 15 Bicoastal Offices:Washington, DC, Florida, New York, New Jersey, California. Diverse and bipartisan team of Virginia-experienced lobbyists Local knowledge. Regional ties. National reach. Named “Top Performing Lobbying Firm”by Bloomberg Government. THE ADVANTAGE 2 YOUR FEDERAL LOBBYING TEAM ALFONSO LOPEZ CO-LEAD LOBBYIST ANTHONY BEDELL CO-LEAD LOBBYIST OMAR FRANCO TEAM MEMBER AMANDA WOOD TEAM MEMBER CLARENCE WILLIAMS TEAM MEMBER PERRY ADAIR TEAM MEMBER 3 ALFONSO LOPEZ •Over 30 years of Federal and Virginialegislative experience •Former U.S. Senate staffer and AssistantAdministrator of the U.S. Small BusinessAdministration for Congressional &Intergovernmental Affairs during theObama Administration •Director of Federal & Congressional Affairsfor the Commonwealth of Virginia duringthe Administration of Governor Tim Kaine •Currently represents the 3rd District in theVirginia House of Delegates 4 ANTHONY BEDELL •Former Deputy Assistant Secretary forCongressional and IntergovernmentalAffairs at the U.S. Department ofTransportation •Also served in key roles at the U.S.Department of Labor and U.S. SmallBusiness Administration •Over 24 years of federal, state, and localgovernment experience •Called “Influential lobbying firepower” –Politico 5 A VERY SUCCESSFUL 2023 Working with Brent McKenzie, the Director of Legislative Affairs for the City, and Andrew Damon, our team has pursued an aggressive strategy for taking advantage of unique federal opportunities available to support the City’s needs and mission – including: •Federal Grants, •Historic Comprehensive Infrastructure legislation •CongressionallyDirected Spending (CDS) – also known as Appropriation Earmarks. The Becker Team is proud to report that in terms of increased revenue funding and grants for the city, policy support, and federal approval for city initiatives – we have had and incredibly successful year. 6 2023 RESULTS •Secured $49.5 million in total federal grant funding* -this is an increase from $48.4 million secured in 2022. •Secured $7.993 million in preliminary earmarks in pending FY24 appropriations bills. We are still waiting on Congress to pass the full FY 2024 Appropriations Bill. At that time, we expect all included earmarks to be sent to the City. *This includes a recent $14.9 million SS4A grant award for which a grant funding agreement is pending 7 BREAKDOWN OF 2023 FEDERAL AWARDS •Of the $49.5 million in federal grant funding: •Of the $7,993,000 in preliminary earmarks: •$3,900,000:Rudee Inlet project through Army Corps •$3,000,000:Laskin Road Phase I-B project •$693,000:Creeds Training Facility Project •$400,000:Virginia Beach & Vicinity Coastal Zone ManagementStudy through Army Corps Competitive Grant Awards Formula/Block Grant Awards $14.9 million in Transportation grants •Discretionary Safe Streets and Roads for All grant award $6,490,354 in Housing & Urban Development grants •Formula grants such as CBDG, Home Investment Partnership, Housing Opportunities, and Emergency Solutions •Family Self Sufficiency Program grant $13,439,126 in Defense grants •K-12 Education at Military-Connected Schools & Community Investment grants $72,122 in Justice grants •Byrne Justice Assistance block grant $3,900,899 in Homeland Security grants •Discretionary FEMA grants including Assistance to Firefighters, Port Security, and National Urban Search & Rescue $1,500,000 in Justice grants •Pass-through of FY23 earmark funding for Law Enforcement Training Facilities project 8 2024 PRIORITIES & OPPORTUNITIES •FY 2025 Appropriations Process –A diversified portfolio of top tier targets •THUD, LHHS, and CJS subcommittees for programmatic opportunities in transportation, emergency preparedness, community development, housing, resiliency, and public safety •Earmarks from VA congressional delegation members •The City’s Congressional delegation is expected to once again accept programmatic and earmark requests in FY25, and your Becker Team will keep the Council and City Manager’s office updated on guidance and deadlines. •HOWEVER, the timing of the FY 25 process remains an open question with FY24 appropriations still pending under a “laddered” CR and slated budget cuts under the June 2022 debt limit agreement (more on next slide). •Key Annual Congressional Authorizations – •Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization – 10x6 “Comprehensive Regional Coastal Storm Risk Management Study” Update •Federal grants –A wide range of funding opportunities: •Flooding and storm resiliency, including BRIC funding •Police & fire department projects (ex., COPS, AFG) •Infrastructure Bill opportunities, including surface transportation and connectivity 9 FY25 Appropriations Process •A typical appropriations cycle roughly mirrors the timeframe to the right. •However, the FY25 process will likely be affected by the current “laddered” stopgap bill that staggers government funding in two groups, effectively creating two shutdown dates: January 19 th and February 2 nd. •The FY25 process will be further affected by the June 2023 debt limit agreement imposing budget cuts if Congress fails to reach a year-end fundingagreement. •Under the agreement, if Congress fails to pass appropriations by December 31, 2023, it will trigger an automatic full-year continuingresolution with a 1% cut. •Missing the date would trigger the cuts, but the effects would not be enacted/felt until April 15. •Therefore, we expect Members to begin soliciting FY25 appropriations requests earlier than expected (January/February)to get ahead of the laddered CR dates and expected April 15 th cuts. Typical Timeframe Expected Action February/March Submit appropriations and earmark requests March/April Members of Congress prioritize submissions and send top picks to the relevant appropriations subcommittee May/June Subcommittees release draft appropriations bills with selected submissions Fall/Winter Congress passes the annual appropriations bill 10 LOOKING AHEAD: POTENTIAL ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES •FY 2025 Appropriations Funding– A diversified portfolio of targets •Highway, Intermodal, includingRAISE Grants •Continued Infrastructure Bill Funding •Stormwater, Resiliency& FloodingRelief •DHS/FEMA - includingBRIC Grants •Local Military HQ & Oceana •CommunityDevelopment/HUD Funding •U.S. Department of Justice Opportunities •Museum & Library Funding •Possible K-12 Schools Programmatic Funding Support 11