AWC Federal Legislative Priorities
Washington cities support community-based decision making; direct federal funding to cities to support critical local services; and oppose federal policies that undermine local government regulatory authority, impose unfunded mandates, or preempt local government revenues and revenue authorities.
Strong cities ask Congress to:
- Maintain stable and reliable federal government operations
- Continue investing in local public infrastructure
- Invest in safe and healthy communities
- Invest in transportation
- Invest in affordable housing and emergency shelter
- Invest in early learning and childcare
- Protect local control over public rights-of-way
- Protect local fiscal sustainability and regulatory efforts
- Support the National League of Cities’ National Municipal Policy and Resolutions and the priorities of the US Conference of Mayors
Read AWC's federal priorities fact sheet
Federal legislation brings unprecedented funding to cities
Since 2020, the federal government has made historical amounts of federal funding and supports available to local governments. AWC staff actively monitor three federal programs: the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) – State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
ARPA and BIL have provided Washington cities with federal dollars to carry out city administration, infrastructure development and improvements, and investments in local communities. The IRA is just getting going and will begin to impact Washington this year.
For more information, read AWC's ARPA federal funding fact sheet
For more information visit our BIL webpage and read AWC's BIL funding fact sheet
Check out AWC's coverage of federal legislative news