Houston Republic

Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Mayor's Government Relations Team have released the 2023 Federal Legislative and Advocacy Update. The Federal Update, a first of its kind report, provides an overview of how national initiatives are impacting the city along with competitive grants awarded.

The team in collaboration with its federal partners has aggressively advocated for legislation and pursued competitive grants that benefit all Houstonians.

Specifically, during the past three years of the Biden-Harris Administration, the City of Houston has benefited from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), successfully competed and secured funds for local projects as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA), along with securing community funded projects or “earmarks” from Houston’s Congressional delegation.

The Federal Update provides a comprehensive report on major pieces of legislation and how Houston’s awards compare to other Texas cities. Examples of some of the programs and projects include:

•    Emergency Rental Assistance Program directly distributed $181.8 million under ARPA

•    Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law:

- RAISE Grant for Telephone Road for $21 million

- Safe Streets & Roads for All Bissonnet project for $28.8 million

- Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant for West Belt Improvement Project for $36.9 million

•    Earmarks for EmPowering Solar Jobs at $750,000, Lake Houston Dam Spillway for $7.5 million, and Historic Wesley Chapel adaptive reuse for $3.5 million

•    Executive & Legislative Advocacy with President Joe Biden, to Cabinet Officials like Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg & EPA Administrator Michael Regan, and Houston’s Congressional delegation members like Senator John Cornyn

Overall, this update highlights the City’s legislative successes, competitive grants, pending applications, and advocacy efforts that directly impact city services, operations, and community and infrastructure investments that touch the lives of everyday Houstonians.

“I want to thank the Biden-Harris administration for its unwavering commitment to providing opportunities for local governments to receive direct allocations through the American Rescue Plan during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic," says Mayor Sylvester Turner. "At the same time, my administration has been laser focused on the challenges that our city faces, particularly in the areas of crime, infrastructure, resiliency, environmental justice, broadband access, and our Vision Zero plan. In partnership with our federal partners and the competitive grants afforded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or ‘IIJA’, my team has worked diligently with city departments to successfully secure federal funding that is driving immeasurable investments in communities across our city, especially in Complete Communities. All Houstonians will benefit from these projects, no matter their zip code or economic background.”

Original source can be found here.