Policy Positions

NARC’s policy positions are comprised of five documents: one for each of NARC’s four policy committees, as well as a general policies and priorities document. Each document is updated annually through a process of member input, committee review, and adoption by our Executive Directors Council and Board of Directors. Once approved, these policy positions are used to direct NARC’s advocacy efforts throughout the year.

Policies and Priorities

General Policies

NARC advocates for regional cooperation as the most effective way to address a variety of community planning and development issues. To support regional councils working within their communities to tackle challenges extending beyond individual jurisdictions, NARC develops its federal advocacy with support of the following general principles as a foundation:

  • Regional Approaches
  • Coordination Between Different Levels of Government
  • Preemption/Unfunded Mandates
  • Health
  • Equity

Transportation Committee

NARC supports a multimodal federal transportation program that increases funding and authority for regional organizations and local governments. To protect the important role regional councils, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) play in planning the nation’s transportation system, NARC urges the federal government to support regional transportation efforts within the following issue areas:

  • Surface Transportation
    • Funding and Financing
    • Planning
    • Good Movement
    • Safety
    • Technology and Data
    • Implementation and Rulemaking
  • Aviation
  • Intercity Passenger Rail
  • Ports and Waterways

Energy & Environment Committee

NARC’s Energy and Environment Policies and Priorities cover the wide range of environmental issues regional councils are faced with. From protection of the natural environment to the development and management of natural resources, NARC urges the federal government to support regional energy and environmental efforts within the following issue areas:

  • Wastewater
  • Drinking Water
  • Air Quality
  • Resilience
  • Solid Waste Management
  • Brownfields
  • Parks and Natural Gas
  • Climate Change
  • Energy

Economic & Community Development Committee

NARC’s Economic and Community Development Policies and Priorities supports the notion that economic and community issues are best solved when communities work together at a regional scale to address them. To promote sustainable, workable, and livable communities for the 21st century, NARC urges the federal government to support regional economic and community development efforts within the following issue areas:

  • Regional Economic Development
  • Economic Development Administration
  • Housing and Community Development
  • Older Americans Act
  • Education and Workforce Development
  • The Census
  • Opportunity Zones
  • Technology and Telecommunications

Public Safety Committee

NARC’s Public Safety and Emergency Management Policies and Priorities document encompasses various issues that require the coordinated efforts of numerous jurisdictions to successfully protect the public. To promote safer, healthier and more resilient communities, NARC urges the federal government to support regional efforts to coordinate planning, response, and recovery efforts within the following issue areas:

  • Substance Misuse
  • Emergency Communications and Interoperability
  • Cybersecurity
  • Gun Violence
  • Disaster Response, Planning, and Coordination
  • Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation
  • National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)