Every January, the Board of Supervisors adopts a Federal Legislative Platform that establishes federal funding needs and policy positions with regard to potential federal legislation and regulation. These documents are utilized by the County's federal advocates, officials, and staff as the basis for advocacy efforts.
The State and Federal Legislative Platforms are prepared each year by staff of the County Administrator's Office in collaboration with County department heads, other key staff, the County state and federal advocates, and with input from the Board's commissions/committees and the public. CAO staff generally conducts outreach in the fall of year year regarding the Platform process and invites input so that draft documents can be considered by the Legislation Committee in November and/or December of each year. Elements of the Platforms related to the subject matter of the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee are also reviewed by that committee prior to the Proposed Platforms being presented to the Board of Supervisors in January for adoption.
With direction from the Board of Supervisors for the 2021-22 Platforms to be more streamlined, concise and provide greater prioritization for the two-year legislative cycle, staff of the CAO's office has conducted Platform input meetings on multiple occasions to solicit input on Platform content and structural/formatting changes.Conference calls and Zoom meetings with the federal advocates from Alcalde & Fay (Mr. Paul Schlesinger and Mr. Perrin Badini) and state advocates from Nielsen Merksamer (Mr. Jim Gross and Ms. Michelle Rubalcava) were also conducted as part of this process.
SUMMARY OF
PROPOSED FEDERAL PLATFORM CHANGES
Additions to the Draft 2021-22 Federal Platform:
- County Profile language changes
- Demographic Highlights including race/ethnic composition and educational attainment graphs
- Federal Funding Needs: Project Specific: Addition of Rail Safety text from Hazardous Materials Commission. Addition of Flood Risk and Water Supply Forecasting from Flood Control District.
- Addition of Land Use, Pipeline Safety, and Waste Management to "Priority Policy Statements," per the Hazardous Materials Commission recommendation.
Substantive text, graphics and photo changes were made to the sections related to:
- Climate Change
- Health Care
- Homeless Services
- Human Services
- Transportation/Mobility Management and Coordination
The Draft 2021-22 Federal Legislative Platform is included in Attachment B. |