By Jake Sullivan, Virginia Mayer, Dina Siegal
Federal Relations is a division of the office of Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) and works with City Departments to define key issues and priorities, and articulate them to the Congressional delegation and relevant federal agencies. The Office also supports the work of City Departments in coordinating and facilitating the City’s pursuit of competitive grants from federal agencies in the areas of education, public safety, transportation, community development, public health, broadband, homelessness, seniors, energy efficiency and conservation, workforce development, and public housing.
Top Federal issues the next Mayor should engage in immediately:
The Federal Budget: The Federal budget reflects an important source of revenue for the City and will impact key programs the City operates. Come January the Federal budget process will be off and running with the President due to outline his vision in February. Your Administration should take an active role in advocating to the House and Senate on funding levels for priority programs that impact the City. In recent years, Federal funding for the City has been adversely impacted by sequestration and budget cuts. These resources have a profound effect on how Bostonians live and how community development meets the needs of our residents.
Immigration Reform: The President wants a deal on immigration this year but this could go over into next year. More than 8,800 immigrant-owned small businesses help strengthen Boston’s economy by generating almost $3.7 billion in annual sales and employing over 18,000 people. IGR has advocated for immigration reform as immigrants continue to help our city to grow. One in four Bostonians were born outside the United States, and speak more than 140 languages in our neighborhoods. Immigrants now account for close to 27% of the city’s population, up from 20% in 1990. For Boston, more diversity means more talent, more ideas and more innovation- a real competitive advantage in today’s global economy.
Reauthorization of No Child Left Behind: This is THE Education bill that will be debated next year. A new Administration should quickly determine its priorities for this Legislation and engage the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation.
Gun Violence: Legislative efforts in the House and Senate to improve the nation’s background check system continue to require support of Mayors to pass these common sense measures. As illegal guns from states with weaker gun laws present a danger in our neighborhoods, a sustained effort and leadership to push for passage of these federal laws will save lives.
The Boston Congressional Delegation
The Boston Congressional delegation works closely with IGR to advance the priorities of the City. There are four members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation who represent Boston: Senators Warren and Markey in the Senate and Congressmen Capuano and Lynch in the House.
Key Committee assignments held by the Boston Congressional Delegation include:
Senate Banking, Housing and Foreign Affairs (Warren)
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (Warren)
Senate Special Committee on Aging (Warren)
Senate Commerce, Science and Technology (Markey)
Senate Foreign Relations (Markey)
Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Markey)
House Financial Services (Capuano and Lynch)
House Transportation (Capuano)
House Oversight and Government Reform (Lynch)
IGR Federal Relations also works with other members of the MA Congressional Delegation on relevant issues including Education and Workforce (Congressman John Tierney), Gun Violence (all Members), Food/Hunger (Congressman Jim McGovern), and Homeland Security (Congressman William Keating).
Each year, Congress must appropriate a specific amount of funding to each Federal agency. Program and agency funding can't be spent until it is appropriated. IGR works closely with the Mayor’s cabinet and department heads to advocate for federal investment in the City through the budget process and works to make sure key funding streams are maintained.
Senator Warren and Congressman Capuano joined Mayor Menino in February at Boston Medical Center to highlight the importance of federal research dollars at Boston institutions.
Nearly 94% of the City’s external funds (state and Federal) are found in eight departments. These eight departments are the School Department, Neighborhood Development, Public Health Commission, Boston Housing Authority, Office of Emergency Management, Police Department, Library Department and the Parks and Recreation Department. Other departments that also have significant grant funding are the Elderly Commission and the Transportation Department. IGR also works to support non-city agencies and external partners who receive federal funding and serve Boston residents. Examples include Head Start, Fuel Assistance, and Community Health Centers.
In recent years, IGR has coordinated advocacy and delivery of an influx of federal funds from initiatives such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). On the flip-side, IGR has also worked to prevent the impacts of deep budget cuts proposed by the majority in the House of Representatives and from budget vehicles such as Sequestration.
At any given time, there are numerous federal policy proposals being drafted or considered in Congress ranging from new legislation to address gun violence to reauthorization of key legislation including No Child Left Behind and the Older Americans Act. IGR represents the city's priorities by providing testimony, comment, and analysis to Congressional leadership and the Administration regarding a variety of legislative vehicles regarding (including but not limited to): sequestration/federal budget, community development, education, foreclosure, homeless and housing, fuel assistance, economic development, innovation, illegal guns, public health, public safety, energy and environment, telecommunications, workforce development, youth activities, seniors, veterans, immigration reform and transportation.
Executive agencies play a critical role with regard to the City - from administering grant funds to implementing federal rules and policies which impact the City.
IGR works closely with all the federal agencies and maintains regular contact with them to identify grant funding opportunities, solve administrative and regulatory problems, and advocate on behalf of the city's priorities.