By Judy Sheahan and Ed Somers
March 24, 2008

The National League of Cities (NLC) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) came out of their spring legislative conferences strongly supporting full funding of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). NLC and NACo joined the Conference of Mayors in making funding for the EECBG a top legislative priority. All three organizations co'signed letters to both House and Senate members asking them to support full funding of the program by signing two bipartisan “Dear Colleague” letters that are currently being circulated on the Hill.

The Senate letter was originated by Senators Robert Menedez (NJ), Bernard Sanders (VT), and Richard Lugar (IN). In the House, Congressmen Albert Wynn (MD) and Michael Turner (OH) are circulating their own letter, while Congressman Chakah Fattah (PA) has sent his own letter to members outlining his strong support for the EECBG program.

Sanders also addressed the League meeting and urged them to get their Senators to sign onto the Dear Colleague letter. He applauded the important work already accomplished by local governments on the global warming and energy efficiency front. “We would be in a bigger void without your efforts,” Sanders said, “but despite your best efforts you can not do it all by yourselves – you need a federal partner.”

Sanders outlined how the EECBG program, of which he was an original co'sponsor, would be even more useful than the Community Development Block Grant since communities as small as 35,000 would be direct recipients of the funds. Sanders provided examples of how the block grant could be used in the areas of improved street lighting, changing building codes, and encouraging the use of renewable energy sources.

“After years of inaction, the crisis of global warming is moving the country towards more sustainable energy,” Sanders said, “and what Congress has done was an important step but a law without funding is not worth much.

The Conference of Mayors sent an action alert to all mayors urging them to contact their Congressional delegation to sign onto both letters. A copy of these letters can be found on the U.S.Mayors website.

During their meeting, NLC also sent a letter signed by over 400 members urging Congress to fund the Block Grant, while NACo passed legislative policy supporting the block grant. Both groups held educational sessions regarding the block grant that were well attended by their members.

Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI), who sits on the Senate Budget Committee, also circulated a letter asking her budget colleagues to include in their budget assumptions appropriations for some of the programs created by the Energy Bill including the EECBG program. Conference of Mayors Executive Director and CEO Tom Cochran met with Stabenow’s staff in support of her efforts. The Senate Budget Committee released its Chairman’s mark, which included $1.2 billion for energy efficiency programs which was eventually passed by the full Senate.

The House also passed a budget that includes money for the block grant. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA) said, “In the budget the House…we make a strong commitment to renewable energy with funding $1.2 billion above the President’s request for energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives – including energy efficiency block grants.”

These budget assumptions give the Appropriations Committees more flexibility to include money for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.

The Conference of Mayors encourages all Mayors to continue their pressure on their Congressional delegation to support full funding of the EECBG program.

Pelosi delivered a broad policy address to the National League of Cities in Washington at their Spring meeting on March 1, covering issues such as public safety, healthcare, infrastructure, and energy independence.

Pelosi condemned proposed Administration budget cuts to homeland security programs saying, “The Democratic budget we will pass this week rejects all of these cuts, and we will continue to work with you to provide the resources America’s cities need to keep our citizens safe.”

“To keep America strong, we must renew America’s infrastructure and rebuild it in a way that keeps America growing while making America greener,” she said, adding, “That means reinvesting in our crumbling highways, levies, dams, and bridges and renewing our commitment to mass transit.”

Pelosi said, “The federal share for investment in infrastructure has declined over time. This places your communities in an increasingly difficult position. Congress and the Administration must step back up to the plate, recognizing that infrastructure is a long-term and ongoing investment.” She added, “In the next Congress, we will take up the reauthorization of the Surface Transportation bill. We must produce a robust bill that strengthens our economy, reinforces the transition to a low-carbon economy, and increases the safety of the traveling public.”

And on the issue of climate protection and energy, Pelosi said, “At the end of last year, our landmark energy legislation boosted fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks for the first time in 32 years.”

Referencing recent trips including one with USCM President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer to meet with young people receiving vocational training to make solar panels, Pelosi added, “In the budget the House will pass this week, we make a strong commitment to renewable energy with funding $1.2 billion above the President’s request for energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives – including energy efficiency block grants.”

Under the leadership of NLC President Cynthia McCollum, council member from Madison (AL), more than 2,000 NLC members headed to Capitol Hill to lobby federal legislators on priorities including:

• Full $2 billion funding for the new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant

• Funding for crime prevention, intervention and enforcement programs

• Legislation to stabilize and strengthen America’s housing finance system

• Funding for transportation infrastructure

• Comprehensive immigration reform

NLC has also launched American Cities ‘08, a multimedia project that seeks to raise the voice of cities and towns in the national elections and work in partnership with the new Presidential administration. “We want the candidates – for president and for Congress – to know that cities are here to help create positive change for the country – regardless of political party,” McCollum said.