Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Member Only Board of Directors Meeting
Norton Event Center
1601 E. Third St., Suite 138
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Mike Burrows, Jennifer Cusack, Kevin Dyerly, Sandra Espadas, Adam Eventov, Louis Goodwin, Mark Kaenel, Lowell King, P.T. McEwen, John Mirau, Dan Murphy, Roman Nava, Vikki Ostermann, Kevin Porter, Brian Reider, Michael Rivera, Daniel Roberts, Kristine Scott, Lupe Valdez, Hassan Webb, and Ray Wolfe.
Announcements: 1) Opportunities for sponsorship of the legislative reception are still available. Sponsors will be recognized on signage at the event.
M/S/P: Minutes from May 8, 2018.
Each Inland Action Committee summarized their issues. All issues will be brought to Washington.
Economic Development
- Support H.R. 4115 – PARTNERS Act (Bonamici) and S. 1599 – BUILDS Act (Kaine) to meet the growing demand for career and technical education, investing in learning and apprenticeships.
Education
- Support the continuation and full funding of education and workforce programs authorized in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and other legislation, which serve California’s students most in need.
- Support increased funding for Individual with Disability Education Act (IDEA) Formula Grants.
- Support enhancements to the Pell Grant Program to help more Inland Empire students complete college and earn degrees faster.
- Support Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) while seeking a permanent solution.
Environment
- Support for H.R. 857 (Cook), California Off-Road Recreation and Conservation Act of 2017 and S. 32 (Feinstein) California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act of 2017.
- Support the Water Conservation Tax Parity Act (S. 1464 – Feinstein and H.R. 448 – Huffman) which provide a federal tax exemption for water conservation rebates.
- Support California WaterFix to upgrade California’s aging water infrastructure.
Healthcare
- Support Protection of the 340B “Drug Discount” Program and oppose H.R. 5598 (Carter), 340B Optimization Act.
- Support Opioid-related legislation which would increase access to substance use disorder treatment.
- Support adequate federal funding through the Housing Choice Voucher program to provide housing assistance to people with the lowest incomes, recognizing that lack of housing is a Social Determinant of Health.
Judicial
- Support the appointment of qualified candidates to fill existing judicial vacancies in the Central District of California, especially in the Eastern Division of that Court, serving the Inland Area.
Transportation
- Support creation of a Regional Inland Port for User-Fee Airports in the Inland Empire to efficiently and effectively address the growing demand for international travel. Currently, all Airport Customs and Border Patrol personnel are required to be deployed out of a designated International Port of Entry (LAX). Through the establishment of a Regional Inland Port, inland airports can be staffed directly within the region they serve, without impacting current staffing at LAX – all of which could be funded through existing user fee agreements.
- Support $65 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Small Starts Program Grant for the West Valley Connector Project.
- Support legislation to prevent FAA Diversion of Local Sales Tax to Aviation Improvements.
The group was asked to select priority issues. Discussion ensued. The following issues will take priority:
- Support the appointment of qualified candidates to fill existing judicial vacancies in the Central District of California, especially in the Eastern Division of that Court, serving the Inland Area.
- Support creation of a Regional Inland Port for User-Fee Airports in the Inland Empire to efficiently and effectively address the growing demand for international travel. Currently, all Airport Customs and Border Patrol personnel are required to be deployed out of a designated International Port of Entry (LAX). Through the establishment of a Regional Inland Port, inland airports can be staffed directly within the region they serve, without impacting current staffing at LAX – all of which could be funded through existing user fee agreements.
- Support the continuation and full funding of education and workforce programs authorized in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and other legislation, which serve California’s students most in need.
- Support H.R. 4115 – PARTNERS Act (Bonamici) and S. 1599 – BUILDS Act (Kaine) to meet the growing demand for career and technical education, investing in learning and apprenticeships.
The meeting adjourned at 8:33 a.m.