2023-2024 Federal Lobbying Report & Update for the City of Virginia Beach, VA

2023-2024 Federal Lobbying Report & Update
for the City of Virginia Beach, VA
Becker DC Team
January 02, 2024

-- 1 of 11 --

National Law & Lobbying Firm with
over 	50 years 	of experience.
15 Bicoastal Offices: 	Washington, DC,
Florida, 	New 	York, 	New 	Jersey,
California.
Diverse 	and 	bipartisan 	team 	of
Virginia-experienced lobbyists
Local 	knowledge. 	Regional 	ties.
National reach.
Named 	“Top 	Performing 	Lobbying
Firm” 	by 	Bloomberg Government.
THE
ADVANTAGE
2

-- 2 of 11 --

YOUR FEDERAL LOBBYING TEAM
ALFONSO LOPEZ
CO-LEAD LOBBYIST
ANTHONY BEDELL
CO-LEAD LOBBYIST
OMAR FRANCO
TEAM MEMBER
AMANDA WOOD
TEAM MEMBER
CLARENCE WILLIAMS
TEAM MEMBER PERRY ADAIR
TEAM MEMBER
3

-- 3 of 11 --

ALFONSO LOPEZ
• 	Over 	30 	years 	of 	Federal 	and 	Virginia
legislative experience
• 	Former U.S. Senate staffer and Assistant
Administrator of the U.S. Small Business
Administration 	for 	Congressional 	&
Intergovernmental 	Affairs 	during 	the
Obama Administration
• 	Director of Federal & Congressional Affairs
for the Commonwealth of Virginia during
the Administration of Governor Tim Kaine
• 	Currently represents the 3rd District in the
Virginia House of Delegates
4

-- 4 of 11 --

ANTHONY BEDELL
• 	Former 	Deputy 	Assistant 	Secretary 	for
Congressional 	and 	Intergovernmental
Affairs 	at 	the 	U.S. 	Department 	of
Transportation
• 	Also 	served 	in 	key 	roles 	at 	the 	U.S.
Department 	of 	Labor 	and 	U.S. 	Small
Business Administration
• 	Over 24 years of federal, state, and local
government experience
• 	Called “Influential lobbying firepower” –
Politico
5

-- 5 of 11 --

A VERY SUCCESSFUL 2023
Working with Brent McKenzie, the Director of Legislative Affairs for the City, and
Andrew 	Damon, 	our 	team 	has 	pursued 	an 	aggressive 	strategy 	for 	taking
advantage of unique federal opportunities available to support the City’s needs
and mission – including:
• 	Federal Grants,
• 	Historic Comprehensive Infrastructure legislation
• 	Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) – also known as Appropriation Earmarks.
The Becker Team is proud to report that in terms of increased revenue funding
and grants for the city, policy support, and federal approval for city initiatives –
we have had and incredibly successful year.
6

-- 6 of 11 --

2023 RESULTS
• 	Secured 	$49.5 million 	in total federal grant funding* - 	this is an
increase from $48.4 million secured in 2022.
• 	Secured 	$7.993 million in 	preliminary earmarks 	in pending FY24
appropriations bills. We are still waiting on Congress to pass the full
FY 2024 Appropriations Bill. At that time, we expect all included
earmarks to be sent to the City.
*This includes a recent $14.9 million SS4A grant award for which a grant funding agreement is pending
7

-- 7 of 11 --

BREAKDOWN OF 2023 FEDERAL AWARDS
• 	Of the 	$49.5 million 	in federal grant funding:
• 	Of the 	$7,993,000 in 	preliminary 	earmarks:
• 	$3,900,000: 	Rudee Inlet project through Army Corps
• 	$3,000,000: 	Laskin Road Phase I-B project
• 	$693,000: 	Creeds Training Facility Project
• 	$400,000: 	Virginia Beach & Vicinity Coastal Zone Management Study through Army Corps
Competitive Grant Awards 	Formula/Block Grant Awards
$14.9 million in Transportation grants
• 	Discretionary Safe Streets and Roads for All grant award
$6,490,354 in Housing & Urban Development grants
• 	Formula grants such as CBDG, Home Investment Partnership, Housing
Opportunities, and Emergency Solutions
• 	Family Self Sufficiency Program grant
$13,439,126 in Defense grants
• 	K-12 Education at Military-Connected Schools & Community Investment grants
$72,122 in Justice grants
• 	Byrne Justice Assistance block grant
$3,900,899 in Homeland Security grants
• 	Discretionary FEMA grants including Assistance to Firefighters, Port Security,
and National Urban Search & Rescue
$1,500,000 in Justice grants
• 	Pass-through of FY23 earmark funding for Law Enforcement Training Facilities
project
8

-- 8 of 11 --

2024 PRIORITIES & OPPORTUNITIES
• 	FY 2025 Appropriations Process – 	A diversified portfolio of top tier targets
• 	THUD, LHHS, and CJS 	subcommittees for 	programmatic 	opportunities in transportation, emergency preparedness,
community development, housing, resiliency, and public safety
• 	Earmarks 	from VA congressional delegation members
• 	The City’s Congressional delegation 	is expected to 	once again accept programmatic and earmark 	requests in FY25,
and your Becker Team will keep the Council and City Manager’s office updated on guidance and deadlines.
• 	HOWEVER, the timing 	of the FY 25 process remains an open question with FY24 appropriations still pending under a
“laddered” CR and slated budget cuts under the June 2022 debt limit agreement (more on next slide).
• 	Key Annual Congressional Authorizations –
• 	Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization – 10x6 “Comprehensive Regional
Coastal Storm Risk Management Study” Update
• 	Federal grants – 	A wide range of funding opportunities:
• 	Flooding and storm resiliency, including BRIC funding
• 	Police & fire department projects (ex., COPS, AFG)
• 	Infrastructure Bill opportunities, including surface transportation and connectivity
9

-- 9 of 11 --

FY25 Appropriations Process
• 	A typical appropriations cycle roughly mirrors the timeframe to
the right.
• 	However, the FY25 process will likely be 	affected 	by the current
“laddered” stopgap bill 	that staggers government funding in two
groups, effectively creating 	two shutdown dates: January 19th
and February 2nd.
• 	The FY25 process will be 	further affected 	by the June 2023 	debt
limit agreement 	imposing budget cuts if Congress fails to reach a
year-end funding agreement.
• 	Under the agreement, if Congress fails to pass appropriations by
December 	31, 	2023, 	it 	will 	trigger 	an 	automatic 	full-year
continuing resolution with a 	1% cut.
• 	Missing the date would trigger the cuts, but the 	effects would
not be enacted/felt until April 15.
• 	Therefore, 	we 	expect 	Members 	to 	begin 	soliciting 	FY25
appropriations 	requests 	earlier 	than 	expected
(January/February) 	to get ahead of the laddered CR dates and
expected April 15th 	cuts.
Typical Timeframe 	Expected Action
February/March Submit appropriations and earmark requests
March/April 	Members of Congress prioritize submissions
and send top picks to the relevant
appropriations subcommittee
May/June 	Subcommittees release draft appropriations
bills with selected submissions
Fall/Winter Congress passes the annual appropriations bill
10

-- 10 of 11 --

LOOKING AHEAD:
POTENTIAL ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES
• 	FY 2025 Appropriations Funding – A diversified portfolio of targets
• 	Highway, Intermodal, including RAISE Grants
• 	Continued Infrastructure Bill Funding
• 	Stormwater, Resiliency & Flooding Relief
• 	DHS/FEMA - including BRIC Grants
• 	Local Military HQ & Oceana
• 	Community Development/HUD Funding
• 	U.S. Department of Justice Opportunities
• 	Museum & Library Funding
• 	Possible K-12 Schools Programmatic Funding Support
11

-- 11 of 11 --