CITY OF SAN ANTONIO
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
TO: Intergovernmental Relations Committee
FROM: Jeff Coyle, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Federal Legislative Update
DATE: April 9, 2021
The City’s Government & Public Affairs Department will provide an update on upcoming infrastructure opportunities through the federal government to include FY 2022 appropriations, Surface Transportation Reauthorization legislation and the recently announced American Jobs Plan.
Since the passage of the American Rescue Plan to manage and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus in Washington has shifted to the nation’s infrastructure. From the announcement of the return of earmarks under the moniker of Community Project Funding to the March 31st release of the Biden Administration’s American Jobs Act, the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and community partners are anticipating three distinct opportunities to seek funding for infrastructure projects. Each opportunity varies on the process, time frame, and potential size of the projects submitted. Below is a summary of each opportunity.
Appropriations - Community Project Funding
Under the Community Project Funding process, members of Congress will be able to sponsor up to ten funding requests from state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations. While a funding cap has not been determined it is expected that these requests could range from $250,000 to $1,000,000 per request. Projects submitted must qualify under certain existing federal accounts and programs, such as the Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG), FEMA’s Mitigation Grant Program, as examples. Additionally, these projects must demonstrate significant community support through letters, op-eds, or other forms of documentation. The deadlines to submit requests range from April 12 to April 16.
Surface Transportation Reauthorization
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) will allow Congressional members to submit infrastructure projects consistent with State and local infrastructure plans to include in the next Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill. To be eligible for consideration submitted projects must be on local Transportation Improvement Plans (TIP) and ideally address a safer transportation network, increasing access, multi-modal transportation systems, reducing carbon pollution, enhancing environmental justice, and supporting underserved communities. The City’s Transportation Department will provide a recommendation on TIP projects that best align with the T&I Committee’s focus. The members’ deadline to submit requests is April 23.
American Jobs Act
The Administration released a $2.25 trillion and broad-based plan to repair and build the national infrastructure. Among many areas included, the effort would address roads, bridges, airports, utility systems, and broadband internet. The American Jobs Act represents the largest opportunity for local infrastructure projects, however there is little known at this point what the final legislation will include or how it will be implemented.
These three avenues present unique opportunities for San Antonio and communities across the country to advance infrastructure priorities outside of the traditional transportation and infrastructure processes. The city has and will continue to work internally and in coordination with partners to take advantage of these opportunities.
On April 14, GPA will provide additional information and detail on possible projects for submittal under each opportunity.