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NEWS HEADLINES

APTA Gears Up for New Legislative Agenda; 100 Days 'Prime Time' for Outreach

A new president’s first 100 days are often viewed as a signal for upcoming priorities, activity and tone, and President Trump’s first days are no exception.

As the new administration and members of the 115th Congress take the reins of government, APTA is also gearing up to provide its members with advocacy, information and resources aimed at reinforcing the importance of investing in ­public transportation infrastructure.

APTA’s recent “Legislative Alert” advised that while this is an exciting opportunity to make additional investments in the nation’s public transportation infrastructure, the industry must also remain vigilant against attempts to roll back the progress it has made. Further, it recommended that members engage with their elected officials in Washington, DC, and in their home districts now, as Congress and the administration begin developing the FY 2018 federal budget.

A brief recap of APTA’s advocacy toolkit and activities follows; find all these materials, including the “Legislative Alert,” at the APTA website via links on the home page.

Call to Action
Almost 200 APTA members participated in a Feb. 8 APTA “Legislative and Advocacy Call to Action” led by APTA Chair Doran J. Barnes, Acting President & CEO Richard White, Legislative Committee Chair J. Barry Barker and Vice President-Government Affairs Rob Healy.

The purpose of the call was to provide an update of the current legislative climate in Washington, DC, and brief members on APTA’s bipartisan outreach to the White House, ­Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, DOT and partners.

White outlined his four central talking points: to clarify an “unpredictable” environment, to advocate for infrastructure investments and forestall efforts to cut federal funding and commuter benefits and natural gas tax incentives, work in a bipartisan fashion with the administration and Congress and roll out a comprehensive strategy that includes policy research, media relations, advertising and grassroots advocacy.

“We are leaving nothing to chance as we work both branches of the federal government and shore up our relationships with key stakeholders,” White said.

Legislative ­Conference
The annual Legislative Conference, March 12-14, Washington, DC, features remarks from key federal legislators and includes plans to engage national and local media explaining why increased investments are critical to both the nation as a whole and to local communities.

In addition, the conference includes opportunities for participants to visit their representatives on Capitol Hill; APTA advises that such visits be scheduled as soon as possible.

Toolkit
The association has developed the “First 100 Days of New Congress and Administration Toolkit,” an online resource to equip members as they reach out to elected leaders both in Washington and in their districts. The kit features several elements designed to take the guesswork out of outreach.

Ready-to-use resources include general messaging and talking points, links to congressional contact information and social media accounts, suggestions for social media postings, customizable invitations to members of Congress to visit your business or public transit agency, agency, APTA recommendations and funding principles.

The toolkit also includes background information members can deliver to elected representatives, including “Where Public Transportation Goes, Community Grows,” a public transit primer; a FAST Act guide; “Invest in Public Transportation for a Stronger America;” “We Urgently Need to Mend Our ­Broken Infrastructure,” a Sept. 9 Newsweek ­editorial by White; and “Optimizing Infrastructure,” an HNTB white paper.

Industry Footprint
APTA’s online Industry Footprint is a perfect companion for Hill visits, in part because it offers the latest information on the extent and reach of the industry by congressional and state legislative district.

The footprint provides a wide range of information, from service provision to an overview of APTA’s diverse membership to the extensive supply chain that employs thousands of people—all delivered in a compelling, printable format. The information is continuously updated and is easily accessible on smartphones and other hand-held devices. Find the footprint quickly here by searching on “Industry Footprint.”

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