March 21, 2008

The National League of Cities came to Washington last week for its Spring Legislative Conference. The $2 billion appropriation for our newly authorized Energy Block Grant was up front and center at the NLC Meeting. The message was loud and clear. They joined with The United States Conference of Mayors in pushing Congress to provide energy block grants to cities, large and small, as we engage in energy efficiency and green job creation. We continue to be encouraged with the progress we are making.

Dear Colleague letters supporting a $2 billion appropriation are gaining steam on Capitol Hill. Mayors are urged to act now and push your Senators and Congress. Representatives to sign on to the Dear Colleague letter. We must show the Appropriations Committees we have high numbers and a fierce political force demanding federal funds this year.

I was pleased to join Pennsylvania Congressman Chaka Fattah on Capitol Hill last week as he assembled his first call to establish the new bipartisan Urban Caucus of House Members. Joining him in this new initiative is Congressman Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio, who will serve as Vice Chair of the Urban Caucus. Mayor Turner has been a strong advocate for cities throughout his career on a number of issues, CDBG and Brownfield redevelopment.

The new Urban Caucus has chosen as its first priority the need to fund our authorized Energy Block Grant legislation through a $2 billion appropriation this year.

We are encouraged with the turnout of Congressional staff at our first meeting. The rollout and formal announcement of the Urban Caucus will come next month as I join with Conference President Doug Palmer along with other organizations continuing our vigorous campaign to get the energy block grant initiative funded.

Last week, I also addressed a number of the leaders of leading and powerful environmental groups here in Washington, such as the League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and Union of Concerned Scientists, to discuss the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant and other energy/climate issues.

This meeting was the first of its kind. Some of the environmental groups have been at odds with cities in our courts over environmental disputes. But the newly authorized energy block grant initiative provides the opportunity to bring us together in a new coalition. Conference green team staff is pleased with the reception we received and the promise that the environmental groups will help us to urge Congress to provide federal funding for the energy block grants this year.

In addition to the new energy block grant program, I have been on the Hill with California Senator Barbara Boxer, Environment and Public Works Committee staff on the cap and trade issue, a significant piece of legislation providing billions in the future. At issue is whether the money from auctions will come to our cities. In the Cap and Trade legislation money is provided to states and they told us “it is anticipated” the money will then go to our cities. We are continuing to express our concern that funds for the Cap and Trade bill going to states is no way of assuring that funds will get to our cities.

New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg is proposing an amendment totaling $2.5 billion that would supplement the $2 billion appropriated energy block grants to cities and the addition money from the Lautenberg Amendment would be distributed the same way that our new energy block grant are to be distributed.

Senator Barbara Boxer’s bill will be scheduled for floor action before June. And we are encouraged by her press statements issued last Friday that cities must be included and must benefit from the cap and trade process.

Conference President Palmer and I, along with our great staff, are going about the business of securing the funds for new Energy Block Grant Program. Together, with the coalition, we are creating the grassroots support we have from mayors across our nation. We can do it. Yes we can! Yes we will! Let’s keep it up as we continue to gain support and march toward victory.