The Trump Administration is following through on campaign promises to construct a new initiative to address the well-recognized need for a significant new federal investment in our nation’s infrastructure. What the new investments will be and how they will be paid for remains unclear – private investment with $137 billion tax credits, or traditional long-term budget approaches? Much remains to be sorted and sifted among competing approaches.

Anticipating some level of new federal investment, AWC teamed up with the Association of Washington Business (AWB), the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) and the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) on a project to position our state to take advantage of new opportunities. We are preparing a visual and persuasive tool that we can all use to maximize federal funding in the critical areas of transportation, water, energy and communications.

AWC President Jim Restucci and CEO Peter King will be in Washington, D.C. February 7-8 for meetings with other city and state municipal league leaders for discussions on the transition to the new administration and for meetings with members of our congressional delegation. For more information, feel free to contact Peter King.

AWC's Federal Priorities under review

For a number of years, AWC has developed and advocated for a focused set of Federal Priorities that we promote with Congress, the administration and other interests. Our primary voice in D.C. is the National League of Cities (NLC), where we have three Washington city officials sitting on the NLC Board and 14 on the seven NLC policy and advocacy committees. NLC priorities are complementary to those adopted by other local government associations like the U.S. Conference of Mayors and National Association of Counties, so we have a coordinated local government voice in the nation’s capitol.

AWC's current Federal Priorities were updated last winter. With a new administration and Congress leading our nation, we are in the initial stages of considering revisions. The first step is a conference call meeting February 3 of AWC's Federal Committee, a group of 30 interested and engaged city officials from all ten of our state's congressional districts. Many of those serving on this committee also serve on an NLC Policy and advocacy committee. During the call, committee members will receive updates from NLC and consider whether priority issue updates are needed. A report back to AWC's Board will be on the Board’s February meeting agenda and a decision will be made about how best to articulate broad priorities when more than 70 city officials and AWC staff participate in NLC's annual Congressional City Conference and meetings with members of our congressional delegation in March.

AWC current Federal priorities are here and membership of the expanded AWC Federal Committee chaired by Immediate Past AWC President and Everett Councilmember Paul Roberts is here.

Keep an eye on our Legislative Bulletin in the coming weeks and months as we sort through the unfolding events in the "other" Washington and work to share how that may impact your community. If questions, please do not hesitate to contact either Peter King or Dave Williams at AWC.