This week, GMA President Mayor Bianca Motley Broom of College Park, First Vice President Mayor Andrea Gibby of Young Harris, and Second Vice President Mayor Jimmy Burnette of Suwanee traveled to the nation’s capital with Federal Relations Manager Molly McLoughlin to discuss Georgia cities’ federal policy priorities. The group also stopped by the National League of Cities’ office for a policy briefing from its federal advocacy team.
It was a busy week in Congress as lawmakers returned from the Memorial Day recess and race to pass consequential legislation before midterm campaign season ramps up in the fall. The officers met with Congressman Austin Scott (R-Tifton) and Congressman Mike Collins (R-Athens), in addition to key legislative staff in the offices of Congressmen Clay Fuller (R-Rome), Brian Jack (R-Peachtree City), and Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
Surface Transportation
With the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently passing the BUILD America 250 Act to reauthorize surface transportation funding, it was especially important that Georgia cities voiced support for the legislation. The officers thanked Congressmen Mike Collins and Clay Fuller for their committee votes in favor of the legislation. Also included in the legislation is the Rail Safety Act, which ensures better safeguards for cities with rail crossings. The officers expressed support for the protection of Safe Streets for All funding, record funding for local bridge repairs, and the Surface Transportation Block Grant program with more implementation dollars.
Affordable Housing
GMA reiterated local government support for the House-passed 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which currently stands at an impasse in the Senate. The bill, aimed at boosting affordable housing supply by reducing regulatory and cost barriers to construction, faces several key holdups in the Senate. One point of contention is the House addition of language deregulating community banks to expand access to construction loans and mortgages. Next steps will likely include an agreement between Senate leaders and the White House on the remaining points of contention.
Brownfields
GMA raised concerns with the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee’s proposed Brownfields Reauthorization. The proposal would cut funding to $123.5 million, down from the current $200 million, and significantly less than the committee’s previous draft authorizing $250 million. The mayors shared their successes with brownfield redevelopments and demonstrated why the funding is an important driver of local economic growth. The legislation has yet to receive a committee vote but the mayors emphasized that if it does pass at the lower funding level, communities across Georgia would be harmed.
Water Infrastructure
Water infrastructure funding and PFAS mitigation were other key issues raised with each office. The mayors encouraged the timely passage of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Reauthorization at the current $5.8 billion funding level. Legislative staff also indicated that reauthorization of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) could be considered soon and potentially combined with several other infrastructure reauthorizations. The mayors stressed the critical importance of water infrastructure funding for Georgia cities as the House and Senate work through the FY27 appropriations process.