February 7, 2023 Minutes- Primary & Alternate Representatives Only Meeting Federal Issues & Priorities- Hybrid Meeting In-Person and via ZOOM

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Primary & Alternate Representatives Only Meeting- in-Person & Zoom

Minutes

Present:  Megan Barajas, Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Greg Bradbard, Mike Burrows, Mark Cloud, Ken Coate, Kevin Dyerly, Dr. Sam Gibbs, Rebbccah Goldware, Louis Goodwin, Otis Greer, T. Milford Harrison, Fran Inman, Lowell King, Steve Lambert, Michael Lewin, Darcy McNaboe, Miguel Mendoza, Jaquelyn Mercado, Dr. Anne Miles, John Mirau, Dan Murphy, Robert Nava, Vikki Ostermann, Cid Pinedo, Catherine Pritchett, Thomas Rice, Michael Rivera, Dan Roberts, Elizabeth Romero, Dan Schenkel, Kristine Scott, Eric Ustation, Lupe Valdez, Pete Van Helden, Michael Wells, Ray Wolfe, and Frank Zabaleta.

Announcements: 1) Please e-mail your D.C. appointment requests this week to staff.  Tours for the Capitol, White House, Pentagon and Washington Monument are available.  Please e-mail Carole Beswick if interested.  2)  The Greater Ontario Business Council is conducting “Vision 2023” on Friday, February 2, 2023 from 7:30-11:00 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario. For more information go to   https://www.ontario.org/

Membership Chair, Kristine Scott, announced the first reading of prospective new member National Association for Industrial and Office Parks-Inland Empire (NAIOP).  Their primary representative would be Bill Blankenship and Jonathan Shardlow would serve as their Alternate representative.  To lean more about them https://www.naiop.org/

Motion by T. Rice/Second/Passed: Minutes from January 24, 2023.

Kevin Dyerly, Chair reminded the group that all the issues identified by each committee will be brought to Washington, D.C.  Committee Chairs were asked to summarize their issues.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  • Support reauthorization of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
  • Support for Affordable Housing Resident Services.
  • Support protection of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program.

EDUCATION

  • Support action to double the maximum Pell Grant to $13,000.
  • Support Infrastructure and Capital Support for Higher Education.

ENVIRONMENT

  • Support for Funding for Continued Management of the Salton Sea.
  • Increased Funding and Incentives to Support the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act.
  • Support for Increased Funding for Water Supply, Water Quality, and Water Storage Projects through:
    • Support for permitting of the Delta Conveyance Project.
    • Funding for Monitoring and Remediation – PFAS.
    • Enhance Reliability of Long-Term Supplies, Storage and Drought Resiliency for California.
    • Support Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity.
    • Federal Support for Water Purveyor Consolidation Efforts

HEALTHCARE

  • Urge Congress to support the health of the Inland Empire through efforts that include the delay or elimination of DSH, Medicaid and Medicare cuts; enhanced coordination of mental and physical health care services; funding to address workforce shortages and geographic disparities; as well as programs and services that address the social determinants of health.

JUDICIARY

  • Urge that the chronic shortfall in Federal Judicial Resources in the Inland Empire be addressed by:
    • Confirming the Honorable Kenly Kiya Kato’s nomination to serve as U.S. District Judge,
    • By constructing a new federal courthouse in the Inland Empire, and
    • By supporting creation of new judgeships for the Central District of California.

TRANSPORTATION

  • Support capacity enhancement for infrastructure.
  • Support extension of Clean Air Act conformity deadlines.

Members discussed and prioritized the issues.

Motion by R. Wolfe/Second/Passed: The 2023 Federal Priority Issues are:

  • Support action to double the maximum Pell Grant to $13,000.
  • Increased Funding and Incentives to Support the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act.
  • Urge Congress to support the health of the Inland Empire through efforts that include the delay or elimination of DSH, Medicaid and Medicare cuts; enhanced coordination of mental and physical health care services; funding to address workforce shortages and geographic disparities; as well as programs and services that address the social determinants of health.
  • Urge that the chronic shortfall in Federal Judicial Resources in the Inland Empire be addressed by:
    • Confirming the Honorable Kenly Kiya Kato’s nomination to serve as U.S. District Judge,
    • By constructing a new federal courthouse in the Inland Empire, and
    • By supporting creation of new judgeships for the Central District of California.
  • Support capacity enhancement for infrastructure

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:32 a.m.