Policy Statements and Testimony
As part of its legislative and regulatory monitoring activities, NARC takes positions on issues and crafts statements of policy that reflect the best thinking of its membership accomplished through a thoughtful information gathering process. These statements of policy have been presented in public forums or special meetings, such as hearings and briefings for congressional and executive agency representatives by the President of NARC or the organization's Executive Director.
NARC Issue Papers:
2008 Legislative Priorities Policy Papers
2007 Legislative Priorities Policy Papers
2006 Legislative Priorities Policy Papers
2005 Legislative Priorities Policy Papers
Updated: May 21, 2007 - Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Issue Brief
NARC ACTION ALERT: MEMBER FEEDBACK REQUESTED!
The Transportation-Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill is currently being debated within Congress. In order for NARC to determine Housing and Urban Development (HUD) policy/positioning as it relates to community and economic development, we need member feedback to better understand how your organizations interact with/administer HUD funding and programs. Click here to read more detailed information with questions for members to answer and email back to Shannon Menard. Thank you in advance for your participation. We will continue to keep you informed of our progress.
NARC ACTION ALERT: MEMBER FEEDBACK REQUESTED!
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), HR 1495, is headed towards conference with the House and Senate after the Senate's recent passage of the bill with an amendment that replaces the House language. This bill will authorize over $15 billion in water projects throughout the country. NARC would like to send letters of support to House and Senate conferees for projects that promote, improve and impact regionalism. Please email Shannon Menard if you are working on or are supporting particular projects outlined in the bill with all applicable project information.
Click here to learn more about HR 1495.
Click here to see the Senate-passed HR 1495 and to view the projects included in the bill.
Issue Briefs:
Rural and Urban Coordination
Transit
Transportation Finance
Transportation Safety
Freight and Goods Movement
Data and Technology
Homeland Security
Policy Statements:
August 2007
NARC Statement of Support for "Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act" (H.R. 3246), which will establish five regional commissions - Delta; Northern Great Plains, Southeast Crescent; Southwest Border; and, Northern Border - the latter three representing newly formed initiatives. NARC will work with the House Transportation & Infrastructure subcommittee that handles these issues, as well as interested members of Congress and those NARC members covered by these Commissions to establish a strong coalition of support for passage of this legislation.
Visual of the areas covered by all U.S. Regional Commissions, both established and proposed.
Copy of H.R. 3246
May 1, 2007
NARC Statement of Support for Freight Rail Tax Credit (S. 1125)
Summary of S. 1125 with sponsor list
April 10, 2006
September 1, 2005
Letters to Congress/Administration:
December 3, 2007
NARC sent letters to Chairwoman Boxer (D-CA) and Chairman Oberstar (D-MN) urging the expedited reauthorization of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), which NARC actively and strongly suppors as a critical local and regional economic resource. NARC advises members to send letters to Boxer and Oberstar, as well as their own Congressional delegation to build additional support.
Sample ARC NARC member letter
November 15, 2007
NARC sent letters to President Bush, Senate leadership and Appropriations Committee leadership regarding the necessary final passage of the Transportation-Housing and Urban Affairs spending bill (HR 3074), which would provide the much needed surface transportation and housing funds for critical projects in states, regions and local communities throughout the country. The letters were sent to the following:
President George W. Bush
Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV)
Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY)
Appropriations Chairman Byrd (D-WV)
Appropriations Ranking Member Cochran (R-MS)
Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Murray (D-WA)
Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Bond (R-MO)
July 9, 2007
NARC sent a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Byrd (D-WV) and Ranking Member Cochran (R-MS) regarding the Homeland Security Appropriations bill (S. 1644), supporting increased funding for homeland security programs that benefit local and regional preparedness and response.
June 19, 2007
NARC sent a letter to House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Oberstar (D-MN) and Ranking Member Mica (R-FL) regarding HR 2701, which would rescind unobligated highway authority in a proportional and across the board manner from states. The letter was cited in the bill’s markup on June 20th and placed into the Congressional Record by Congressman Costello (D-IL) for supporting the bill’s language in this particular section, Sec. 252, which preserves local and regional authority.
NARC also sent letters to House Appropriations Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee Chairman Mollohan (D-WV) and Frelinhuysen (R-NJ) regarding the subcommittee’s recent passage of the FY08 appropriations bill, which establishes a good starting point for FY2008 funding for the Economic Development Administration (EDA), increasing it $100 million more than the President requested. Similar letters were sent to the House Appropriations Committee Chairman Obey (D-WI) and Ranking Member Lewis (R-CA), the Senate Appropriations counterpart Subcommittee Chairwoman Mikulski (D-MD) and Ranking Member Bennett (R-UT), and the Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Byrd (D-WV) and Cochran (R-MI). NARC supports increasing EDA's funding to the FY08 authorized level of $500 million.
May 7, 2007
NARC sent letters supporting the passage of H.R. 2116, the Freight Rail Infrastructure Act of 2007, the companion bill to S. 1125, to co-sponsors Congressmen Kendrick Meek (D-FL) and Eric Cantor (R-VA).
NARC also sent support letters to Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) and Representatives Richard Baker (R-LA) and Corrine Brown (D-FL) respectively for H.R. 2125 and 2095. H.R. 2125 would ensure competition in the rail industry through preservation of existing rail-to-rail competition and enable customers to obtain reliable service. H.R. 2095 would reauthorize the Federal Railroad Administration and improve rail safety.
May 2, 2007
NARC sent letters supporting the passage of S. 1125, the Freight Rail Infrastructure Capacity Expansion Act, which intends to provide incentives to expand rail infrastructure and help ease highway congestion, to the following Senate leaders:
Bill Sponsors:
Senator Lott (R-MS) Senator Conrad (D-ND)
Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee:
Senator Inouye (D-MI) Senator Stevens (R-AK)
Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security Subcommittee:
Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) Senator Smith (R-OR)
Environment and Public Works Committee:
Senator Boxer (D-CA) Senator Inhofe (R-OK)
Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee:
Senator Baucus (D-MT) Senator Isakson (R-GA)
NARC members are encouraged to send letters of support for the freight rail tax credit bill. Please email Shannon Menard for additional information or for sample letter language.
April 30, 2007
NARC sent letters of support to Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee leaders Senators Inouye (D-HI), Stevens (R-AK), Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Smith (R-OR) on the passage of S. 294, which would authorize $11.4 billion to Amtrak over the next six years. The bill would provide states with grants to improve rail infrastructure, authorizing $3.3 billion in operating subsidies and $4.9 billion for capital grants, including $1.4 billion to states for intercity passenger rail upgrades. Like federal highway aid, the grants would require states to provide a 20 percent match for all federal funds.
The bill has passed the Commerce Committee and will most likely be examined next by the Finance Committee. The House T&I Committee has yet to draft a bill.
NARC members are encouraged to send letters of support for the Amtrak reauthorization. Please email Shannon Menard for additional information.
Talking Points:
Transportation
Economic & Community Development
Homeland Security
Environment
Congressional Hearings and Testimony:
NARC monitors and participates as needed in Congressional hearings on subjects and issues of importance to our membership. Summaries and hearing information is provided below by clicking on the corresponding date. If there is an upcoming hearing you are interested in NARC covering, please email Shannon Menard.
May 9, 2007 - Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee hearing on the Farm Bill and Rural Development
May 15, 2007 - House Homeland Security Committee hearing on the 2007 Hurricane Season Preparedness
May 22, 2007 - Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on FEMA Reform
Policy Terminology:
NARC Policy Functions:
NARC monitors appropriations bills and other legislation before the U. S. Congress in areas of interest for its membership; provides congressional technical assistance, as needed; and, facilitates information that advances the work of regional councils and metropolitan planning organizations.
Each year, NARC develops legislative priorities and a set of policy papers on issues that will be on the national legislative agenda in the areas of transportation, economic and community development, homeland security and regional preparedness, the environment, authorizations and new federal initiatives.