“When local, state and federal officials work together, our residents benefit and our communities thrive.”
Municipal officials representing all regions of the state participated in the Florida League of Cities federal advocacy trip known as the Federal Action Strike Team (FAST) Fly-In.
More than 50 Florida City officials gathered in the state capital to meet with members of the Florida congressional delegation and advocate on important federal issues affecting local communities.
“The league’s FAST fly-in trip allows us to have face-to-face meetings with members of the Florida congressional delegation and build relationships that strengthen Florida,” said FLC President Jolien Caraballo, Vice Mayor of Port St. Lucie. “When local, state and federal officials work together, our residents benefit and our communities thrive. We really appreciate Members of Congress joining with us to discuss important issues impacting our local communities.”
While in Washington, DC, local leaders lobbied to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program and simplify the federal infrastructure grant process. The group also focused its advocacy efforts on discussing key priority issues, including cybersecurity funding, community development block grants, municipal bond tax exemptions and Federal Emergency Management Agency loan interest relief.
“Our Federal Action Strike Team had a successful trip to Washington with the largest attendance to date,” said FAST Chair Anne Gerwig, Mayor of Wellington. “Each attendee brought a unique perspective to our meetings, which helped our convention delegation better understand how the issues we discussed are impacting Florida cities. Communicating directly with federal agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Office of the National CyberDirector and FEMA, will help our local communities access federal resources and their processes.”
Before heading to Capitol Hill, representatives from the FLC and the National League of Cities Federal Advocacy Team provided a federal briefing. The group met with most members of the Florida congressional delegation, including US scythes Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.
FAST members also met with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, where they heard directly from federal agency officials on housing resources, infrastructure financing opportunities, cybersecurity and FEMA disaster recovery. Attendees were in Washington during the President’s State of the Union Address.
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