Approve the legislative positions recommended below. The Legislative Committee met on February 9, 2001. Washington Update Peter Robertson and Ed Newberry, AQMD Washington Legislative Representatives, reported that Congress is now organized, with the exception of a few committees. The other two seats were lost through the retirement of Congressman Ron Packard and the death of Congressman Julian Dixon. Senator Feinstein remains on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Work continues with AQMD staff to formulate funding proposals for Congressional support.
The proposals will be presented to potential supportive members and will then be forwarded to the Appropriations Committees for consideration. AQMD may want to get actively involved in this issue, consistent with one of the AQMD legislative priorities for 2001 to remain a leader on clean air policy issues before Congress. Getting involved on this issue may be one of the most direct ways to do that. Senator Smith has also expressed an interest in legislation to further reduce emissions from automobiles, and plans to send a legislative delegation to Detroit to meet with automobile manufacturers to look at all technology, automobiles and fuels. There are currently a number of trade organizations, including the road builders, interested in streamlining the environmental review of highway projects.