NATaT Washington Report

The "NATaT Washington Report" is a monthly email newsletter that provides timely information to town and township officials on the legislative, regulatory, funding, and policy decisions in Washington that could affect your communities. The Washington Report focuses on federal issues that affect local governments, including towns and townships. The Washington Report is produced by NATaT's federal representative in Washington, The Ferguson Group. For more information on the legislation described in this report, see http://thomas.loc.gov/ or contact The Ferguson Group. Contact NATaT Federal Director Jennifer Imo at 1.866.830.0008 or jimo@tfgnet.com for more information.

November 4, 2009 WASHINGTON REPORT (full document in pdf)

THE OCTOBER 2009 WASHINGTON REPORT CONTAINS SUMMARIES OF THE FOLLOWING ISSUES:

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE

BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
• Status of FY 2010 Appropriations Bills

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Direct Federal Funding to Local Governments
• Unemployment Benefits Expansion
• Parks and Recreation

ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND ENERGY

• Interior-Environment Appropriations
• Davis-Bacon Act Required for Clean Water and Drinking Water Loan Fund Projects
• Nationwide EECBG Competition Begins - December 14 Deadline
• Climate Legislation Introduced in the Senate

HEALTH CARE

• House "Compromise" Health Care Bill Unveiled

LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

• Hate Crimes Enacted
• Firefighter Grant Program Reauthorization
• FEMA Grants Change Opposed by State and Local Groups

NATAT'S NATIONAL CONFERENCE

• 2009 America's Town Meeting a Success - Save the Date for 2010!

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

• Public Safety Communications

TRANSPORTATION

• SAFETEA-LU - One Month Extension
• Climate Bill Addresses Clean Transportation Projects