COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR RESOLUTION NO. 220957

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Sponsors:  Mayor Quinton Lucas and Councilmember Kevin McManus

Establishing the City of Kansas City’s legislative priorities and positions on matters that may come before the 118th United States Congress in 2023.

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WHEREAS, the City desires to publish general statements of its priorities and positions on matters that may become the subject of or be affected by proposed federal legislation during the 118th United States Congress in 2023; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. MAJOR PRIORITIES. That the City adopts the following major priorities on matters that may come before the 118th United States Congress in 2023:

1.                     Equitable Distribution of Funds: Continue to provide direct funding allocations to cities and require direct participation from cities in planning for funds that will flow through states, to ensure an effective and equitable distribution of federal funds to address local needs and priorities. Continue to expand flexibility in local use of federal stimulus funds.

2.                     Violence Reduction: Increase funding for evidence-based efforts that address the root causes of gun violence, including programs to provide support to victims of gun violence, diversion and intervention programs, and programs that help law enforcement agencies solve more homicides and shootings. Provide greater amounts of funding to cities that are disproportionately impacted by violence.

3.                     Housing: Increase federal support for cities to develop affordable housing, expand rental assistance, and provide transitional housing and social services to support people experiencing homelessness. Update policies to improve efficacy of existing programs, including changing the definition of homelessness and 90-day rule so individuals leaving incarceration or substance use treatment do not need to spend time in an emergency shelter before accessing transitional and supportive housing.

4.                     Transportation: Support legislation which allows for increased funding for KCATA and the Kansas City Streetcar Authority to invest in priorities such as fare free transit, expanded and more frequent service provision, and enhancements to fleet efficiency.

5.                     Economic Support: Continue to rebuild the economy through continued and expanded federal investments in child care, health care, job training programs, education, digital access, climate change resiliency, and economic development.

Section 2. POSITIONS. That the City adopts the following positions on matters that may come before the 118th United States Congress in 2023:

Finance & Governance

•                     Economic Justice. Support efforts to study options providing economic justice for historically disenfranchised groups.

•                     Municipal Bonds. Oppose the elimination of the municipal bonds tax exemption and restore the ability to advance refund tax-exempt municipal bonds.

•                     Protecting Individual Rights. Support efforts to protect and further codify the rights of individuals to make personal decisions about their healthcare, including protecting access to safe abortion care and contraceptives, and about their personal lives, including protecting the equal rights of all individuals to marry whomever they choose, regardless of race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

•                     Reducing Reporting Burdens. Support efforts to reduce overly burdensome reporting requirements, which increase costs and decrease efficiency of local governments, and oppose efforts, like the Financial Data Transparency Act, which would impose unnecessary and unfunded reporting standards on local governments.

•                     Treasury Offset Program. Support an amendment to section 6402 of the IRS Code of 1986 to allow the City’s participation in the Treasury Offset Program.

Health & Public Safety

•                     Center for Disease Control Funding. Support increasing the Center for Disease Control’s total budget and appropriations for programs that impact local health departments or public health activities.

•                     Early Childhood Education. Support increased funding to early learning programs including Head Start, Early Head Start and the Child Care Development Block Grant to allow assistance to an increased number of eligible children.

•                     Emergency Personnel. Support continued and increased funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program, which funds critical equipment and training for emergency personnel, enhancing their efficiency and safety while also supporting community resilience.

•                     Family & Medical Leave. Support the creation of a national paid family leave program, which will support child development, early childhood health outcomes, and families.

•                     Reentry Support. Support legislation for policies and programs which address and mitigate involvement in the criminal justice system, particularly among youth, and proven interventions which reduce rates of recidivism among the formerly incarcerated.

•                     Urban Areas Security Initiative Funding. Support the restoration of funding from the Department of Homeland Security through the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) for the public safety agencies in our bi-state metropolitan area to maintain regional capabilities to prevent terrorism and to respond promptly and effectively to both man-made and natural disasters.

•                     Violent Crime Prevention. Support increased funding for initiatives that will reduce violent crime in Kansas City and pursue funding for grants that assist communities with developing collaborations between law enforcement, public health practitioners, and community organizations to address violent crime with evidence-based strategies.

Housing, Community, & Economic Development

•                     Affordable Housing Development and Preservation. Support increased funding for programs such as Community Development Block Grants, HOME, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, and other programs which are catalysts for community development and which support the production of affordable housing in the Kansas City region.

•                     Building Efficiency. Expand funding for programs such as the Weatherization Assistance Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and others which allow city residents to improve the energy efficiency of their residences and businesses.

•                     Digital Access. Support programs that expand digital access and literacy and support efforts to improve data regarding areas lacking digital access, including in urban areas.

•                     Expedite Housing Development. Support efforts to streamline processes relating to the development of transitional, supportive, and affordable housing, including streamlining environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

•                     Homeownership and Local Development. Support programs which offer incentives for small-scale developers and residents to convert vacant or underutilized land into owner-occupied affordable housing.

•                     Resources for Economic and Workforce Development.  Support programs that expand resources for local, place-based economic development and workforce development efforts.

Transportation & Infrastructure

•                     Climate Protection and Resiliency, including Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Sequestration. Support efforts to meet the City’s climate goals and advance environmental justice by accelerating the transition to affordable, zero carbon energy, making buildings more efficient, investing in pedestrian and bike infrastructure, increasing affordable housing near transit and jobs, and preserving and increasing tree canopies and other natural areas.

•                     Construction and Investigations Programs. Support funding of flood risk management and water resources efforts through construction and investigations accounts.

•                     EPA Consent Decree. Continue efforts to reduce the financial burden of water rates on residents through implementation of the amended EPA Consent Decree.

•                     Infrastructure Efficiency. Support programs that assist the city and residents with increasing the energy efficiency of homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

•                     Rate Payer Assistance. Support efforts to provide assistance to rate payers, including the WIFIA program and continued investment in low interest loans through the State Revolving Fund program for clean water and drinking water.

•                     Renewable Fuel Standards. Re-evaluate ethanol fuel stock requirements, subsidies, and mandates to assess environmental impacts on water supplies, downstream water quality, air quality, and carbon emissions; shifts in global climate and food production; and market impacts on rural communities.

•                     Transportation Infrastructure Funding. Develop a uniform national alternative to gas/fuel taxes based on vehicle weights, uses, and miles traveled. Standardize smart technologies to identify on road vehicles for purposes of taxation and traffic law enforcement.

                     Section 2. OTHER ORGANIZATIONS’ POSITIONS. That the City supports the legislative positions adopted by the Kansas City Consensus Agenda for Economic Development for matters that may come before the 118th United States Congress in 2023.

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