APWA – Washington Report

February 8, 2021

**Due to next week’s Presidents’ Day holiday, the next edition of the APWA Washington Reportwill be sent out on February 22, 2021.**

Please be sure to visit the ‘Advocacy News’ page on the APWA website and follow @APWAGOVAFFAIRS on Twitter to stay apprised of Government Affairs information. 

• APWA 117th Congress Public Policy Priorities
• APWA Washington Report
• Contact Congress
• Public Works Research 
• Advocacy News
• @APWAGOVAFFAIRS on Twitter
• InfoNow Communities

Please click here to read the full Washington Report.

LATEST NEWS

• Congress Clears Way for COVID-19 Stimulus Plan
  Last week, Congress passed S. Con. Res. 5, A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2021 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2022 through 2030.
• Senate Agrees on Power-Sharing
  Last week, the Senate came to agreement on how it will conduct its business for the next two years with the unanimous adoption of Senate Resolution 27.

Executive Branch and Regulations

• White House Policy Increases FEMA COVID-19 Assistance
  The White House announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be increasing their federal cost share amount to 100% to cover the costs of activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Senate Committee to Vote on DOL Nominee
  February 11, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions is scheduled to vote on the nomination of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to be Secretary of the Department of Labor (DOL), which is responsible for a wide range of workforce development initiatives helping to maintain a skilled workforce.
• Senate Committee to Vote on DOE Nominee
  February 11, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions is scheduled to vote on the nomination of former Connecticut Commissioner of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona to be Secretary of Education.
• Senate Committee to Vote on EPA Nominee
  February 3, Michael Regan, currently the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, faced the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works as nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• DOT Secretary Sworn into Office
  Last week, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next Secretary to lead DOT.
• DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Sworn into Office
  Alejandro Mayorkas was sworn-in by Vice President Kamala Harris last week, following a 56-43 vote in the U.S. Senate to serve as DHS Secretary.
• FEMA Launches COVID-19 Vaccine Support Webpage
  FEMA announced it will be providing a COVID-19 Vaccine Support webpage, emphasizing it is an additional tool to be used in concert with information provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention.
• FHWA Proposes Changes to MUTCD – Deadline Extended to May 14, 2021
  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released proposed changes, for the first time in 10-years, to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for streets and highways.

APWA Advocacy

• APWA Hosting Congressional Brief on Infrastructure
  February 12, APWA, in cooperation with the House of Representatives Public Works & Infrastructure Caucus, is scheduled to hold a virtual congressional briefing, “The Road Ahead: Public Works and Infrastructure in the 117th Congress.”
• APWA Participates in NHSC Winter Virtual Meeting 
  APWA member Mark Ray, Director of Public Works for Crystal, Minnesota was joined by APWA Government Affairs Manager Marty Williams during the (virtual) annual National Homeland Security Consortium (NHSC) winter meeting.

PWX@Home

• APWA Hosting Online Water Resources Events in February
  As part of PWX@Home, APWA is hosting a series of events related to water resources in the month of February.

ON THE HORIZON

• February 9 at 10:00 a.m. ET, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has scheduled a business meeting to consider the nomination of Michael Regan to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
• February 9 at 12:00 p.m. ET, the House Committee on Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change is scheduled to hold a hearing, “Back in Action: Restoring Federal Climate Leadership;”
• February 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET, the House Committee on Homeland Security is scheduled to hold a hearing, “Homeland Cybersecurity-Assessing Cyber Threats and Building Resilience;”
• February 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions is scheduled to hold a hearing on the nominations of Miguel Cardona for Secretary of Education and Marty Walsh for Secretary of Labor.
• February 17 at 2:30 p.m. ET, the National League of Cities is scheduled to host a tele-town hall on the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions as part one of a three-part series on the revisions put on by the Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative;
• February 23 at 2:00 p.m. ET, the EPA is scheduled to host a webinar on the Lead and Copper Rule as part of the Small Drinking Water Systems Monthly Webinar series, with panels featuring;
  • Lead and Copper Rule Revisions;
  • Chemistry of Corrosion and Release;
  • Copper Corrosion: Copper Release to Pitting Attack.