Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Member Only
Norton Regional Event Center
1601 E. Third St., Suite 138
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Mike Burrows, Ken Coate, Kevin Dyerly, Louis Goodwin, John Husing, Fran Inman, Mark Kaenel, Lowell King, P.T. McEwen, John Mirau, Dan Murphy, Catherine Pritchett, Thomas Rice, Michael Rivera, Dan Roberts, Dan Schenkel, Kristine Scott, Ray Wolfe and Frank Zabaleta.
Announcements: 1) The SBCTC will hold a board meeting tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. Congressman Holden will advocate for his legislation (AB-2011) to create a rail construction authority to complete the Gold line extension. Also attending is Senator Portantino who also has authored virtually the same legislation in the Senate (SB-1390). Support was requested to stand with SBCTA in opposing these bills .
M/S/P: Minutes from February 25, 2020 with two members abstaining.
The Executive Committee has moved that Mark Kaenel he moved to Emeritus status. Mark will no longer serve as the representative for Alta Pacific Bank effective March 6, 2020. Mark has been an active participant serving as Chairman, agreeing to serve an additional year in that capacity as there was a need. In addition to actively working on various committees he has served as our Treasurer for the last few years.
M/S/P: Mark Kaenel will be given Emeritus status.
Staff summarized documents and information contained in the Washington, D.C. member trip folders.
Committee Chairs Summarized their 2020 federal issues.
Economic development
- Support for increased federal workforce training initiatives and programs that will successfully serve Inland Empire employers and workers and address the shortage of qualified aircraft mechanics in the Inland region (S.3043/H.R.5427).
- Support access to capital through federal programs, including the improvement and modernization of the EB-5 Program (S.2778), and continued support for Small Business Administration financing programs designed to serve as a backdrop for small businesses seeking capital.
- Concern regarding disproportionate impact of Tariffs/Trade issues on the Inland region.
Education
- Support re-authorization of the Higher Education Act to ensure economically disadvantaged and non-traditional students have the opportunities to earn collage degrees and fill and attract high-skilled, high-demand jobs.
- Support continuing protection for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students, as well as establishing a pathway to citizenship.
- Support for Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act (S. 2225 and H.R. 4968).
- Support increased funding for Individual with Disability Education Act (IDEA) Formula Grants (G.R. 1878).
Environment
- Support increased funding for water supply, water quality, and water storage projects.
- Support funding for Continued Management of the Salton Sea.
- Support increased funding to U.S. Forest Service for air tanker bases, with a focus on dedicated funding at San Bernardino International Airport.
Health care
- Delay or eliminate Medicaid Disproportionate-Share Hospital (DSH) Cuts.
- Rescind or substantially modify the proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation (MFAR) Rule.
- Support and protect positive coverage gains of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Judicial
- Support prompt appoint of qualified candidates to fill existing judicial vacancies in the Central District of California, especially in the Eastern Division serving the Inland Area.
- Support new judgeships which are urgently needed in the Central District, beyond filling the existing vacancies, to bring the Court back to its fully authorized strength.
Transportation
- Allow existing emissions models to be used to avoid the loss of transportation funding arising from EPA adoption of the SAFE Vehicle Rules Part 1.
- Support research and policies that provide for integrated deployment of Automated Vehicles throughout the country.
- Protect authority of San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) to perform financial, technological, and environmental analysis, as well as construction, for public transportation to Ontario International Airport.
Meeting adjourned at 8:39 a.m.