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2022 Federal Legislative PrioritiesCopyrighted February 7, 2022 City of Dubuque Consent Items # 7. City Council Meeting ITEM TITLE: 2022 Federal Legislative Priorities SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of the attached 2022 Federal Legislative Priorities. SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve DISPOSITION: ATTACHMENTS: Description Type Federal Legislative Priorities-MVM Memo City Manager Memo 2022 Federal Legislative Priorities Supporting Documentation THE C DUjIBQTE Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: 2022 Federal Legislative Priorities DATE: February 3, 2022 Dubuque WAWca 914 ii 2007-2012.2013 2017*2019 Director of Strategic Partnerships Teri Goodmann worked with the Department Managers and City of Dubuque strategic partners to develop a set of recommended 2022 Federal Legislative Priorities and is recommending adoption of the attached priorities. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. v Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM:sv Attachment CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager Teri Goodmann, Director of Strategic Partnerships THE CITY OF DUBql" E Masterpiece on the Mississippi Dubuque All-Amerim City v1110NAI (1Ah-LLV a I 1 1 2007*2012*2013 2017*2019 2022 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES Table of Contents 1. BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL..........................................................................................................4 2. INFRASTRUCTURE: TRANSPORTATION GRANT PROGRAMS.....................................................................6 a. RAISE GRANT.........................................................................................................................................6 b. DOT TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNITY & SYSTEM PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAM .......................6 3. INFRASTRUCTURE: SURFACE TRANSPORTATION......................................................................................8 a. EAST -WEST CORRIDOR STUDY— UNIVERSITY AVENUE OVERLAP SECTION..........................................8 b. 14" ST RAILROAD OVERPASS..............................................................................................................10 c. 16T" ST CORRIDOR — CHAPLAIN SCHMITT ISLAND — CENTRAL AVE/WHITE ST...................................10 d. NORTHWEST ARTERIAL/HIGHWAY 20 INTERSECTION........................................................................12 e. SOUTHWEST ARTERIAL (US HIGHWAY 52): PROJECT UPDATE...........................................................12 e. CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS: US HIGHWAY 20....................................................................................15 f. PUBLIC TRANSIT FUNDING...................................................................................................................15 4. INFRASTRUCTURE: AIR TRANSPORTATION.............................................................................................17 a. AIR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM...........................................................................................................17 b. PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGE............................................................................................................17 c. ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE.......................................................................................................................17 d. CONTRACT TOWER PROGRAM...........................................................................................................18 e. PFOAS AND PFAS IN AQUEOUS FILM FORMING FOAM......................................................................18 f. SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT GRANT(SCASDG).................................................18 5. INFRASTRUCTURE: PASSENGER RAIL......................................................................................................19 6. INFRASTRUCTURE: WATER......................................................................................................................20 a. WASTEWATER & DRINKING WATER...................................................................................................20 b. FLOODWALL IMPROVEMENT & MAINTENANCE.................................................................................20 7. INFRASTRUCTURE: BROADBAND & TELECOMMUICATIONS...................................................................21 a. COMMUNICATIONS.............................................................................................................................21 b. BROADBAND DATA ACT......................................................................................................................25 8. CITY/COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES/PROTECTIVE SERVICES...............................................................26 a. COMBINED COMMUNICATION CENTER..............................................................................................26 b. CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTER GRANTS.....................................................26 c. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICES PROGRAM........................................26 9. HOUSING.................................................................................................................................................28 a. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDING........................................................28 b. MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY PROTECTIONS......................................................................................28 c. ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS.......................................................................................................................29 1 1 P a g e 10. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT..................................................................................................................30 a. EDA GRANT PROGRAMS......................................................................................................................30 b. FEDERAL HISTORIC TAX CREDITS........................................................................................................30 c. NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT PROGRAM................................................................................................31 d. CHILDCARE..........................................................................................................................................31 e. EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM...........................................................................................................31 f. "BUILD BACK PLANNING GRANT" PROGRAM......................................................................................32 g. ARTS & CULTURE.................................................................................................................................32 11. PUBLIC HEALTH.....................................................................................................................................35 a. PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING...................................................................................................................35 b. CRESCENT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER..........................................................................................35 c. PREVENTION & PUBLIC HEALTH FUND................................................................................................36 d. CLIMATE CHANGE & HEALTH..............................................................................................................36 e. LEAD POISONING................................................................................................................................37 f. SUPLLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CUTS................................................................37 g. CHILD NUTRITION REAUTHORIZATION(CNR).....................................................................................38 12. PLANNING.............................................................................................................................................39 a. CLIMATE CHANGE...............................................................................................................................39 b. RECOVERY........................................................................................................................................... 39 c. TRANSPORTATION & BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.......................................................................40 d. HOUSING.............................................................................................................................................40 e. CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM......................................................................................41 13. SUSTAINABLE & RESILIENT COMMUNITIES..........................................................................................43 14. INDIAN GAMING REGULATIONS...........................................................................................................46 15. EQUITY..................................................................................................................................................47 a. MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING...............................................................................................47 b. EXPAND THE EARNED INCOME AND CHILD TAX CREDITS..................................................................47 c. INCREASE THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE.........................................................................................48 d. LICENSE PEOPLE WHO LEARN TRADES WHILE IN PRISON..................................................................48 e. REAUTHORIZE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT............................................................................................48 f. TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR EX-OFFENDERS..........................................................................................49 g. FULLY FUND HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM BASED ON ACTUAL NEED..............................49 16. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PRIORITIES...................................................................................................51 a. AMERICORPS.......................................................................................................................................51 C. AMERICA'S RIVER AT THE PORT OF DUBUQUE...............................................................................55 2 1 P a g e d. OUT OF SCHOOL TIME (OST) PROGRAMMING...................................................................................60 e. DREAM CENTER...................................................................................................................................60 f. FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH..........................................................................................................................61 g. FOUR MOUNDS FOUNDATION/HEART BUILDING PROGRAM............................................................61 h. MINES OF SPAIN — E.B. INTERPRETIVE CENTER..................................................................................62 3 1 P a g e 1. BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL HISTORIC BIPARTISAN FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE LEGISLATION SETS THE STAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT On Monday, November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Bi-partisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL) into law. This landmark bipartisan legislation provides unprecedented opportunities for local governments and states to make long overdue investments in infrastructure including roads, bridges, broadband, water and energy systems. The bill includes: • $110 billion for roads, bridges and major infrastructure projects • $110 billion for bridge replacement and repair. • $39 billion to modernize public transit • $$66 billion in passenger and freight rail • $65 billion in broadband infrastructure • $17 billion in port infrastructure • $25 billion in airports • $7.5 billion for zero and low emission (city and school) buses and ferries and electric vehicle charging stations • $65 billion to rebuild the electric grid • $105 billion to upgrade water infrastructure, replace lead service lines and build disaster resiliency into these systems • $21 billion to clean up brownfield and superfund sites The infrastructure bill was proceeded by the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on March 11, 2021. Support for this legislation was a top federal legislative priority for the City of Dubuque in 2021. The ARPA provides an estimated $1.9 trillion in stimulus to aid in the economic and health recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Key provision of ARPA include: • Mount a national vaccination program, contain COVID-19, and safely reopen schools. • Deliver immediate relief to American families bearing the brunt of this crisis. • Support communities that are struggling in the wake of COVID-19. ARPA also provides financial aid to families, governments, businesses, schools, non -profits and others impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis, including: • $1,400 direct payments to eligible taxpayers making $75,000 or less annually. • Expanded and extended unemployment insurance through September 6, 2021. • $350 billion for state and local governments. • $102 billion for community & economic development, transportation & infrastructure. • $47 billion for housing, food security, public health & social services. • $165.4 billion to aid our education system. • $40 billion for childcare. • $52.1 billion in new loans and grants for small businesses. 4 1 P a g e • $65.85 billion for coronavirus vaccine and testing activities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL) combined with the America Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) create opportunities in the Dubuque community for economic development and growth not seen in nearly a century. Most significantly, these legislative acts require communities to demonstrate a priority focus on equity and climate resiliency. The City of Dubuque continues to be vigilant and prepared in order to compete successfully for federal and state funding emanating from BIL and ARPA. Four community wide meetings have been held with private and nonprofit partners and city staff to share information, resources and tools which will create a foundation of support for a concerted effort to secure grants for Dubuque and regional priorities. Current and past City Councils have demonstrated national leadership through the approval of the City of Dubuque's Imagine Dubuque Comprehensive Plan, the Equitable Poverty Prevention and Reduction plan, the Climate Action plan, the Arts and Culture Masterplan and the by setting out city council goals and priorities annually. 5 1 P a g e 2. INFRASTRUCTURE: TRANSPORTATION GRANT PROGRAMS a. RAISE GRANT REBUILDING AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY (RAISE) GRANT, F/K/A BETTER UTILIZING INVESTMENTS TO LEVERAGE DEVELOPMENT (BUILD) GRANT The City of Dubuque has already benefited from this signature USDOT funding program. A $5.7 million TIGER grant was received in 2010 to support the reconstruction of utilities and complete streets in the Historic Millwork District. Additionally, Dubuque County in partnership with the City received a $5.4 million BUILD grant in 2019 to support a series of roadway repairs, intersection capacity and safety improvements, and a trail extension in the vicinity of the John Deere Dubuque Works facility. The City previously applied for USDOT TIGER Discretionary Grants in both 2014 and 2017, however our application requests were not selected. City staff was advised by grant review agency staff that our proposed infrastructure project grant applications were strong, however the projects were not advanced far enough in the planning, design, and environmental clearance development phases for selection consideration. As a result, in an effort to be better positioned for future Federal Discretionary Grant opportunities, the City has applied for a RAISE Infrastructure Planning Grant to assist with the planning and design of a multimodal transportation corridor project for proposed improvements to the Elm Street corridor, the 16th Street corridor, and the proposed 14th Street Railroad Overpass bridge project. The 2021 RAISE Planning Grant application proposes a project entitled "Building Bridges to Employment and Equity (132E2)". Through the grant, the City of Dubuque requested $2,112,000 in USDOT RAISE Planning funds to assist with the planning and design of a multimodal transportation corridors which will connect low-income residents with economic opportunities and key community resources in the Kerper Boulevard Industrial Park, on Chaplain Schmitt Island, in downtown Dubuque and its Historic Millwork District, and on the west side of the city via the downtown Intermodal Transportation Center. Although this planning grant was unsuccessful, the process is in place to reapply in 2022. REQUESTED ACTION Support the City's 2022 reapplication for a RAISE Grant in March of 2022 to support the construction of a vehicular and pedestrian overpass on 14t" Street and to construct Complete Streets on 16t" and Elm Streets.". b. DOT TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNITY & SYSTEM PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAM Last offered in FY2012, DOT's Transportation, Community & System Preservation (TCSP) grant program provided $61 million in funding to plan and implement strategies to improve the efficiency of the transportation system, reduce its environmental impacts, reduce the need for costly future public infrastructure investments, ensure efficient access to jobs and services, boost smart growth development patterns, and leverage private investment. As one of the few direct sources of federal transportation funding available to local governments, the TCSP program should be reintroduced to help meet community infrastructure needs. The City of Dubuque in 2012 received a $600,000 TCSP grant that helped in the reconstruction of Elm Street from 9t" to 111" Streets. This "Complete Street" is adjacent to the Jule Intermodal Transportation Center. This street is a key part of the overall Historic Millwork 6 1 P a g e District which has leveraged this federal funding to help stimulate over $100 million in private redevelopment. REQUESTED ACTION Reestablish the DOT Transportation, Community & System Preservation grant program to $1 billion annually. 7 1 P a g e 3. INFRASTRUCTURE: SURFACE TRANSPORTATION The Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act is a five-year transportation bill intended to improve and expand the Nation's surface transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, transit systems and rail transportation network. This legislation passed in December 2015 and provides direction for transportation activities for five years. The bill reforms and strengthens transportation programs, refocuses national priorities, provides long term certainty and greater flexibility for states and local governments, streamlines project approval processes, and maintains strong commitment to safety. Reauthorization of the transportation bill builds on and strengthens the innovations begun in MAP-21 in areas such as performance -based planning, safety, design, and freight planning. FAST Act supports policies which expand choices, bolster public health, and strengthen communities. An extension of the FAST Act passed in 2020 expired in October of 2021. A multi -year surface transportation bill is needed to assure funding for future planning and construction of transportation projects. Support is needed for the Transportation Alternatives Program including the Recreational Trails Program and Safe Routes to Schools. Combined these programs provide for bike and pedestrian projects and safety in our local community. The federal fuel tax was last raised in October of 1993 and is not indexed to inflation, which increased by 77 percent from 1993 until 2020. A long-term fix is also needed for the Highway Trust Fund. EAST -WEST CORRIDOR STUDY — UNIVERSITY AVENUE OVERLAP SECTION The US Highway 20 corridor is the primary east -west route in the City of Dubuque and future traffic volume projections indicate US Highway 20 alone will not provide sufficient capacity for east -west travel in the City. Capacity along alternate east -west corridors will need to be improved to provide connectivity between the western growth areas and the downtown urban core. In August 2017, the City Council listed the East-West Corridor Capacity Improvement Implementation as a "Top -Priority" in its 2017-2019 Goals and Priorities and directed City staff to begin implementation plans for the recommendations contained in the East-West Corridor Connectivity Report. The adopted East- West Corridor Connectivity Study report acts as the City's Master Plan for both short-term and long-term capacity improvements or corridor modifications to support growing east -west traffic flow in the City. The study includes recommended improvements supporting complete streets concepts, multi -modal transportation, vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, and recreational improvements. In an effort to advance this top priority, the City has already completed the following improvements: Project Year Cost Property Acquisition 2016 $ 853,300 Grandview - Delhi Roundabout 2016 $ 827,000 Loras - Grandview Traffic Signals 2017 $ 370,300 University - Grandview Roundabout 2018 $1,200,000 Total Improvements To -Date $3,250,300 8 1 P a g e East/ est Corridor Capacity Improvements �LJB F. �,r1, � F iY�il k7ttltt or,14 7.fiss4�tryi WINOW y r .'P. Mr,`. ° GranoviewlLoras " Traffic Signal Improvements � . Gornpleted:2017 , r jo .; . University, Loras.Asbury; Pennsylvania Overlap Section Proposed Roundabouts Preliminary Besignf �r Environmental Study: 2018 Grandvien;L�niversiy Roundabout Proposed Build: 2018 ' - Grandview09hVGrace Roundabout Completed: 2D16 The section of University Avenue, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Loras Boulevard, referred to as the "Overlap Section" was recommended for converting the three intersections along University Avenue to roundabouts. In July 2018, the City applied for an $18.1 million U.S. Department of Transportation Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant request to assist in funding both multi -modal and capacity improvements within the identified East-West Corridors. Staff was notified in December 2018 that the City was not selected to receive a BUILD grant. Following the BUILD grant announcement, the City has an opportunity to move forward and advance the development of East-West Corridor Capacity Improvements utilizing the new Iowa DOT Federal Aid SWAP Policy. Effective October 2018, the new Federal Aid SWAP Policy allows federal funds normally allocated to cities or counties to be replaced with State of Iowa Primary Road funds on a dollar -for -dollar basis. The goal of the new policy is to increase efficiencies and help local governments reduce the level federal oversight, regulations, and requirements. Additionally, the use of Primary Road funds will be reimbursed 9 1 P a g e at 100% of eligible costs which eliminates the requirement for local governments to provide a 20% local match. In January 2019, the City began the process to de -federalize the East-West Corridor project by paying back the federal funds previously used for property acquisition. On August 19th, 2019, the City received the FHWA final closure acceptance for the defederalization of funds related to the East - West Corridor project. Now that the project defederalization is completed, staff has been working with the Iowa DOT to prepare a new SWAP Funding Agreement to allow for the use of state SWAP funds to complete the preliminary engineering and environmental (NEPA) study phase, right-of-way property acquisition, final design, and future construction phases. Once the SWAP funding agreement is in place, the City will be able to utilize both local City funding and SWAP funding to begin the preliminary engineering and environmental (NEPA) study phase for intersection capacity improvements along the University Avenue, Loras Boulevard to Pennsylvania Avenue "Overlap Section". The next steps in the design development process are to begin the preliminary engineering and environmental (NEPA) study phase for the Overlap Section which will take approx. 12 months to complete. Once the preliminary engineering and environmental (NEPA) study are completed, corridor impacts will be identified, and property acquisition could begin which is anticipated to take approximately 2 years to complete. b. 14t" ST RAILROAD OVERPASS The Canadian Pacific (CP) Railroad travels through the urban core of the city with numerous at -grade crossings on local city streets in the downtown area. With approximately 15-20 trains passing through Dubuque on a daily basis, pedestrians, vehicles, commercial traffic, and emergency responders have interrupted access the northeast segment of the city. This cuts off the most economically sheltered area of our community from job and shopping opportunities. Rail transport through Dubuque will continue to negatively impact existing at -grade crossings which could potentially be blocked more frequently and for longer periods of time. The City of Dubuque's East — West Corridor flow would also be negatively impacted. A 14th Street Overpass would provide an unimpeded elevated crossing over the railroad tracks and thus provide unimpeded access to the Kerper Boulevard, the redeveloped 16t" Street Corridor, tourism and recreational amenities on Chaplain Schmitt Island, Highway 61/151 into Wisconsin, the Washington and North End neighborhoods, the Historic Millwork District and downtown. The City will pursue funding opportunities at the federal level through applications to BUILD, INFRA Grant and other transportation infrastructure programs. c. 16T" ST CORRIDOR — CHAPLAIN SCHMITT ISLAND — CENTRAL AVE/WHITE ST For the past nearly three decades, Dubuque has engaged in long-term planning and implementation efforts aimed at removing blight, reclaiming abandoned spaces, and redeveloping the City's six -and -a - half -mile riverfront. These efforts have resulted in the redevelopment and success of the Port of Dubuque, 101 Page Dubuque's Main Street and downtown, and the Historic Millwork District. With the completion of the Bee Branch flood mitigation project, the City continues its focus on redevelopment, turning to the North End neighborhoods, Kerper Blvd and Chaplain Schmitt Island. Completion of the Bee Branch project provides flood protection to some of Dubuque's oldest and most vulnerable neighborhoods. Building on this significant $218 million infrastructure investment are several initiatives led by the City and its partners. These include the City of Dubuque Housing department's CHANGE program which focuses on improving affordable housing stock and neighborhoods on the North End. The City's creation of the Office of Shared Prosperity and Neighborhood Support aims to rebuild job opportunity and entrepreneurship. The Chaplain Schmitt Island Placemaking and Implementation Plan has already prompted an enhanced Veterans' Memorial and reflection pond and will continue to redevelop this tourist amenity through hike/bike trails and additional retail, recreational and entertainment venues for residents and citizens alike, creating another destination attraction on Dubuque's riverfront. Partners at the Dream Center and Steeple Square provide educational programing and event space for residents and other nonprofit organizations of the North End and learning space for students in Dubuque. None of these initiatives and projects can be successful without connectivity of transportation and broadband infrastructure. Connecting Dubuque's riverfront, downtown and Historic Millwork District with its Intermodal Transportation Center to the North End will require transportation improvements along the 16th Street Corridor, onto and throughout the Chaplain Schmitt Island and to Central Avenue and White Streets. The 16th Street Corridor approaching the Chaplain Schmitt Island includes the former Dubuque Packing Company site which is envisioned to be redeveloped. Potential retail and mixed -use space are planned and could serve as a regional retail magnet. The 16th Street Corridor transportation access to this space is constrained. Current transportation routes do not meet the needs of the planned mixed -use activities. Planning envisions the development of a Complete Street along the 16th Street Corridor with roundabout access to the former "Pack" site at Sycamore and Marsh Streets, continuing on to a roundabout at Kerper Blvd and 16th Street and finally the construction of a roundabout on Chaplain Schmitt Island. Transportation infrastructure would also include construction of a separate bike/pedestrian bridge across the Peosta Channel, and creation of a mixed -use trail connecting Chaplain Schmitt Island with the City's transit hub (Intermodal Transportation Center) to better support the movement of workers, tourists, and freight. Central Avenue and White Streets corridors are poised for improvements in the coming years. Planning is underway for streetscape and potential building improvements. REQUESTED ACTION Dubuque has multiple transportation improvements envisioned in order to continue the community's work enhancing tourism destinations on the riverfront and expanding economic development on the North End and Central Avenue/White Street Corridor. Increased federal funding for existing transportation programs that support all modes of transportation including the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Transportation Discretionary Grant program, Transportation Alternatives (Trails, Safe Routes to School), Surface Transportation Block Grant Program and Small Starts are requested. 111 Page d. NORTHWEST ARTERIAL/HIGHWAY 20 INTERSECTION The City of Dubuque supports the implementation of capacity improvements along the Highway 20 corridor and the Northwest Arterial intersection. This intersection is experiencing operational challenges which will only be compounded now that the Southwest Arterial/ US52 is completed, and commercial traffic is rerouted from the downtown urban core. The recommended capacity improvements will allow traffic to travel along Highway 20 more efficiently and safely, from the Northwest Arterial to the Southwest Arterial/ US52 interchange. The Iowa DOT has completed a capacity improvements study and has identified the preferred roadway corridor and intersection improvement. The Iowa DOT is currently evaluating alternatives for both funding and phasing the implementation of capacity improvements. REQUESTED ACTION Continue to support the Iowa DOT efforts to implement improvements along the Highway 20 corridor and the Northwest Arterial intersection for safe and efficient travel to the Southwest Arterial/ US52 interchange. e. SOUTHWEST ARTERIAL (US HIGHWAY 52): PROJECT UPDATE The US Highway 52 Southwest Arterial project is a 6.1-mile four -lane divided freeway with priority 1- access control between US Highway 20 and US Highway 151/61. The Dubuque City Council, the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors, the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation all identified the completion of the Southwest Arterial project as the No. 1 surface transportation priority in the Dubuque area. After nearly 30 plus years in the making, it is with great appreciation in celebrating the completion of the Southwest Arterial / US Highway 52 project, which was opening to vehicular traffic on August 17, 2020. The final cost projection for the fully completed 4-lane freeway is Southwest Arterial 1 US20 Interchange Bridge 121 Page approximately $160 Million. This historic milestone achievement would not have been possible without the strong collaborative partnerships with the Iowa department of Transportation and Dubuque County. The photos show the completed Southwest Arterial / US Highway 20 interchange and the scenic rolling hills and highway bridges along the corridor. Transfer of Jurisdiction Through the collaborative partnership between the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) and the City of Dubuque, significant milestone achievements for the completion of the Southwest Arterial (US 52) project were realized with the execution of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and finalizing the Transfer of Roadway Jurisdiction (TOJ). The following is a brief summary of the overall intent and principal objectives set forth when developing the Memorandum of Understanding: The Iowa DOT and City, in joint cooperation, will Transfer the Jurisdiction of the Southwest Arterial from the City to the State in exchange for the Transfer of Jurisdiction of the Northwest Arterial (or Iowa 32), and portions of existing U.S. 52 / Iowa 3 through downtown Dubuque, from the State to the City. The Transfer of Jurisdiction will occur after the Southwest Arterial is completed and open to traffic. RAilif7r o D^-nA QrirJnn Following the execution of the MOU, the City continued as the lead agency for the multiple project development phases for completing the Southwest Arterial and was responsible for completing the following improvement projects: Project Description Status Final Engineering Design Completed Right -of -Way Property Acquisition Completed BHE Gas Pipeline Utility Relocation Completed BP Gas Pipeline Utility Relocation Completed ITC Transmission Line Relocation Completed North Cascade Road Reconstruction Completed English Mill Road Reconstruction Completed Military Road Reconstruction Completed Funding As a result of hard work from Dubuque's congressional delegation over the past 20 years, the City secured approximately $32.8 million in federal funding for the Southwest Arterial project. The Iowa Department of Transportation has spent approximately $115 million dollars for construction of the complete 4-lane highway between US Highway 20 to US Highway 61/151. The City and County have a local investment of $44 million dollars (including local match funding and federal earmark appropriation) towards the completion of the Southwest Arterial (US 52). The following table summarizes the maximum City and County local match funding, including both federal earmark and Iowa DOT funding for continuing the advancement and completion of the Southwest Arterial: 131 Page Funding Source Fund Amount Federal Funding $ 32.8 Million City Funding $ 7.6 Million Dubuque County Funding $ 3.9 Million Iowa DOT 5-Year Highway Transportation Program $ 115 Million Total Project Funding: $ 160 Million Future Initiatives As part of the 4-lane highway construction, grading was also completed for a future bike pedestrian shared use path from US Highway 20 to US Highway 61/151. To accommodate the future trail - several of the bridges along the corridor incorporated a separated shared use on the bridges. A future initiative will be to pave the 6.1-mile bike pedestrian shared use path which will complete a connection between the Heritage Trail and the Mines of Spain Recreational Area. REQUESTED ACTION The City of Dubuque would like to thank all of its partners at the federal and state level for all the support in making the Southwest Arterial, our #1 surface transportation project a reality and now is seeking $6 million to fund paving the bike and pedestrian shared use trail that has been graded as part of the project. 2. As part of the Transfer of Jurisdiction of the Southwest Arterial from the City to the State in exchange for the Transfer of Jurisdiction of the Northwest Arterial (or Iowa 32) from the State to the City once the Southwest Arterial is completed and open to traffic, per State code, the 141 Page Northwest Arterial will be brought to a "State of Good Repair". The Iowa DOT has issued a State of Good Repair payment to the City and the City has agreed to be the lead agency to complete the road rehabilitation work. The City is working with Dubuque County and the FHWA to coordinate the completion of the Northwest Arterial State of Good Repair work as part of the upcoming BUILD grant. The federal BUILD grant also includes major improvements to John Deere Road as it connects to the Northwest Arterial. e. CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS: US HIGHWAY 20 Transportation infrastructure connectivity is essential to a vibrant economy and thriving community. REQUESTED ACTION The City of Dubuque supports completion of four -lane construction on Highway 20 to Chicago. To accomplish this project and other significant highway and interstate capacity improvements, the City supports efforts to identify a long term, sustainable revenue source that keeps the Highway Trust Fund fully funded to be used for rebuilding and maintaining infrastructure. f. PUBLIC TRANSIT FUNDING The FAST Act increases dedicated bus funding by 89% over the life of the bill. It provides stable formula funding and competitive grant program to address bus and bus facility needs. This bill does not appear to increase operational formula funding to support existing or service expansion efforts. Regulatory requirements continue to increase while operational funding levels remain flat. The City of Dubuque is partnered with the Iowa DOT, East Central Intergovernmental Association and IBM Watson Research Center to analyze travel patterns in the community and develop a replicable model for responding to travel demand through planning of transportation investment that incorporates all modes - car, bus, bike and pedestrian. The goal of this research is to create a more efficient and cost effective public transit system modeling tool for cities under 100,000 population. This nationally acclaimed research effort and integrated approach to addressing community travel needs will provide opportunities to expand public transit service to our citizens. Without additional operating funding to support current services and new operating grant opportunities to expand services, implementation of this project could be limited. Technical assistance for cities interested in undertaking bus rapid transit projects earlier in the planning stages would also be appreciated. Currently, most planning must be complete and Small Starts funding already secured for a city to be eligible for this type of assistance. Operational funding to support ongoing route analysis and planning at the transit system level would be helpful as well. Capital funding for vehicles and onboard technology replacement are needed. Many vehicles in Iowa, and Dubuque specifically, are at or near the end of their useful life. Onboard technology provides essential data for management and dispatch personnel as well as drivers and passengers, but to upgrade or replace this technology fleet -wide is costly. Stagnant operational funding and limited capital funding opportunities make developing responsive, cost-effective public transit opportunities difficult. 151Page REQUESTED ACTION Support increased funding for operational funds through the 5307 program and pursue additional grant funding for bus replacement to include four new transit vehicles, specifically two smaller, heavy duty, thirty-foot GILLIG buses and two mini buses. 161 Page 4. INFRASTRUCTURE: AIR TRANSPORTATION Although the FAA Reauthorization process is complete until 2023, DBQ encourages increasing spending levels through the appropriation process for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), Essential Air Service, Contract Tower Program, Small Community Air Service Development Program, and other programs that provide for the safe operation, development, and maintenance of facilities at airports around the country. a. AIR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Congress authorized $3.35 billion for AIP in FY20 and another $500 million in supplemental AIP finding for projects at airports smaller than large hub airports. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Fund the AIP program to provide $4 billion in 2021 with $100 million in increases every year throughout the reauthorization period. o Monies collected and deposited in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund must be protected from Sequestration or FAA operating uses. o Continue FAA federal match at 100% for FY21 - FY23 2. Appropriate at least $500 million in supplemental AIP funding for projects at airports smaller than large hub airports in FY23. 3. Continue to fully fund the Non -Primary Entitlement for General Aviation airports. b. PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGE These FAA authorized funds are levied and collected locally and are used to construct runways, taxiways, terminals, security improvements, and many other items travelers encounter daily. The current collection amount of $4.50 per passenger and is not indexed to inflation which restricts the amount of money available for large capital projects. Since the PFC came into existence in 1990, it has had only one increase to its current amount. In the meantime, construction costs have more than tripled. REQUESTED ACTION We urge lawmakers to adjust the outdated federal cap on local PFCs, increasing the cap to $8.50 and indexing it to inflation. o Increasing the PFC to $8.50 and indexing it to inflation would ensure long term funding viability for even the smallest of commercial service airports. o Allowing these funds to be used for revenue generating items like passenger terminals, parking lots, airline offices, etc. would significantly reduce the impact on smaller airports, their tenants, and their sponsors. c. ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE There are 174 communities nationwide receiving EAS subsidized air service, including five in Iowa (Burlington, Fort Dodge, Mason City, Sioux City, and Waterloo). REQUESTED ACTION 171 Page We urge Congress to fully fund the EAS program in the FY20 DOT spending bill and elimination of the Public Law No. 112-95 restrictions on airport eligibility to participate. d. CONTRACT TOWER PROGRAM Safety and common-sense dictates continued funding of the ATC program and the contract tower program or restoration of FAA staffing of these facilities. A United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Report Number AV-2013-009, issued on November 5, 2012, found that "a contract tower cost, on average, about $1.5 million less to operate than a similar FAA tower." The report further stated, "contract towers had a significantly lower number and rate of safety incidents compared to similar FAA towers." REQUESTED ACTION We urge Congress to fully fund the Contract Tower program in the FY21DOT spending bill. e. PFOAS AND PFAS IN AQUEOUS FILM FORMING FOAM Currently, Commercial Service Airports are required by FAA Regulations to use Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) operations. It has been widely known these AFFF products are manufactured with PFAS. Airports should not be held liable for complying with FAA regulations that allow commercial service airlines to operate at the airports. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Introduce liability legislation that holds airports harmless for present and past use of products mandated by the FAA. 2. Provide funding for the proper disposal of AFFF products manufactured with PFAS once an alternative is approved by the FAA. f. SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT GRANT (SCASDG) The Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) is a grant program designed to help small communities address air service and airfare issues by increasing competition and improving community connectivity. REQUESTED ACTION Provide an additional $20 million for a revised Small Community Air Service Development Program. The new initiative should focus on helping small communities that have had air service reduced or eliminated during the pandemic. 181 Page 5. INFRASTRUCTURE: PASSENGER RAIL Through the Envision 2010 process, Dubuque residents identified the return of passenger rail to Dubuque as one of its top ten priorities. Local passenger rail advocates established a passenger rail citizen group, "Ride the Rail," to engage the public, secure support and promote the return of passenger rail service between Chicago to Dubuque. The City has been successful in partnership with DMATS and the local Ride the Rail citizen group in securing state and local funding for the feasibility study of passenger rail return between Chicago and Dubuque. Federal funding support for passenger rail projects provides the critical next step for the return of passenger rail service between Chicago and Dubuque. REQUESTED ACTION Support funding for passenger rail service from Chicago to Dubuque. 191 Page 6. INFRASTRUCTURE: WATER a. WASTEWATER & DRINKING WATER The nation's wastewater and drinking water infrastructure is experiencing an infrastructure need of $655 billion over the next twenty years. We congratulate Congress on the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL) which includes $105 billion in water infrastructure funds. The City of Dubuque has ongoing funding needs for drinking water and clean water infrastructure. The State Revolving Loan (SRF) program has been very effective in helping the City address water infrastructure needs. For every federal dollar of SRF spending, 21.4% is returned to the federal government in the form of taxes and on average, 16.5 jobs are created for every 1 million spent through SRF; each job is estimated to bring about $60,000 in labor income. Infrastructure investments create 16 percent more jobs than equivalent spending on a payroll tax holiday, 40 percent more jobs than an across-the-board tax cut, and more than five times as many jobs as temporary tax cuts. Every million dollars of SRF spending results in $2.95 million of input in the U.S. economy. This is a smart investment complimenting a narrow federal role of ensuring modern, efficient infrastructure. Since this is a loan program, SRFs leverage resources from all levels of government and the private sector empowering state and local governments. SRFs are voluntary, thereby reducing regulatory burdens on businesses. Dubuque has utilized SRF funds for two major projects, the Bee Branch project and the Water and Resource Recovery project. Dubuque is poised to now include lead service line replacement funds through SRF or other federal infrastructure grant funds. The SRF funding source is critical to cities. REQUESTED ACTION The City of Dubuque supports the expansion of grant funds available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL) for water infrastructure needs, particularly the Catfish Creek sanitary sewer improvements, lead service line mitigation and other priorities. b. FLOODWALL IMPROVEMENT & MAINTENANCE The Senator John C. Culver Flood Wall system was built between 1967 and 1974 at a cost of $11 million dollars. Over the past nearly fifty years it has provided protection valued in the billions of dollars. Over the past five years, City staff along with US Army Corps of Engineers staff have continued to monitor the flood resilience of the flood system at Dubuque. It has been determined that a new pumping station should be constructed to replace the current gates and pumps at the Bee Branch which was originally constructed prior to the federal flood control project. The City was fortunate to be awarded a $2.5 million EDA grant to offset some of the $14.5 million in estimated construction costs. The City is also looking to take advantage of the SRF program to fund a portion of the project cost. It has also been determined that burying the "I" wall in South Port would strengthen its resilience. REQUESTED ACTION Continued support for funding for Dubuque's critical flood prevention infrastructure, including $15 million for new flood wall gates and pump station improvements on Kerper Boulevard at the 16t" Street Detention Facility and $14.7 million to bury and strengthen the South Port "I" wall. 201 Page 7. INFRASTRUCTURE: BROADBAND & TELECOMMUICATIONS a. COMMUNICATIONS As a member of the National League of Cities (NLC), the United States Conference of Mayors, and the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), the City of Dubuque joins these organizations in acknowledging that the historic transformation of our communications infrastructure is essential to the economic competitiveness of the local governments, states, and the nation. Preserve local authority to manage public rights of way for the benefit of everyone. Cable television and video franchise agreements are an essential part of managing the rights of way and ensuring appropriate compensation for the benefit of the public. These benefits include not only monetary payments, but also franchise terms such as support for public, educational, and governmental (PEG) access, including institutional networks (I -Nets). Protect local authority to establish taxes that are consistent with local needs and maintain adequate revenue. Local governments recognize and support efforts to modernize the collection and administration of local communications taxes, but in a manner that preserves the ability of local government to impose and collect taxes to fund vital services for its citizens consistent with local values. Protect and enhance local ability to provide for homeland and hometown security. Local government's first responders need fully deployed E911, access to spectrum and funding for interoperable communications to protect the public. Recognize local roles in promoting nondiscriminatory access to the full range of communications services. Municipalities are helping to bring advanced services to individuals and small businesses. Cities must have the autonomy necessary to encourage competition and infrastructure deployment that will lower prices and improve service quality for their citizens. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Do not nationalize cable and video franchising. 2. Protect local governments' ability to facilitate or offer advanced communications services to their citizens. 3. Any changes to the collection and administration of communications taxes, including extensions or modifications of the Internet Tax Freedom Act, must preserve local authority to collect revenue consistent with local needs. 4. Do not undermine or eliminate support for PEG access and I -Nets. Specifically support Community Access Preservation (CAP) Act of 2009 (H.R. 3745) by making this a federal legislative priority. Local Government Principles for Communications Policy Modernization We believe that Congress and state and local governments can achieve these goals by embracing the following principles: 211 Page • State and Local Authority The City of Dubuque supports a balanced federalist approach that encourages new innovation and technology while preserving appropriate authority for state and local governments to protect their citizens — particularly in relation to public safety and homeland security, promoting local competition, promoting economic development, taxation, expansion of access to advanced networks, rights -of -way management, and consumer protection. • Public Safety State and local public safety agencies rely heavily on communications services and systems to protect public safety. In order for states and localities to carry out this mission, it is essential that important obligations, such as 911 and CALEA, be applied to all relevant communications platforms, regardless of technology. States and localities must also have sufficient spectrum and funding to obtain interference -free, interoperable emergency communications. In addition, it is important to preserve and strengthen the ability of state and local government to protect and warn the public through emergency alert systems. • Use of public property and right-of-way State and local governments are the trustees of public property and must retain the power to manage those assets for the benefit and safety of the community. • Municipal Broadband State and local governments can play an important role in making advanced services, including broadband services, available to their citizens, based on specific local needs and conditions. Federal policy should promote the rights of local governments that choose to offer those services directly to their citizens. • Video Franchising The federal government should not preempt or restrict local authority to negotiate mutually beneficial agreements and grant franchises to video providers. Public, educational, and governmental channels are important tools citizens use to participate. City of Dubuque Supports: Legislation that preserves and extends municipal government authority to provide communications services to their constituents. Legislation that overturns the FCC cable franchise order and returns to the local franchising scheme set out in the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984. The City of Dubuque opposes a wireless tax moratorium. Ensuring expanded access to multichannel video programming is an important role of local government. Expanded Access States and localities support policies and programs that advance access to communications services and ubiquitous broadband deployment in all areas of the country. Current initiatives that promote universal 221 Page and affordable access to communications services include the federal and state universal service funds, the E-Rate program, Lifeline and Linkup, urban and rural infrastructure support mechanisms, and obligations ensuring equitable cable and broadband deployment. Taxation States and localities should retain full flexibility, as does the federal government, to structure their tax policies in ways that best serves their citizens. Consumer Protection States and localities are best positioned to respond effectively to a wide variety of consumer concerns, including but not limited to complaints related to service quality and affordability, reliability, deceptive practices, billing practices, privacy, and criminal activity. Wireless Zoning and Siting It is essential for local communities to be able to address the expansion of wireless facilities to promote the deployment of advanced communications while also protecting the interests of citizens in safety, sound planning, and aesthetic concerns. Cellular carriers have petitioned the FCC to create new, onerous regulations that would make it more difficult for local governments to carry out their responsibilities in this area. The Communications Act prohibits such FCC regulation. Congress should ensure that the balance struck in federal law is not overturned by agency action. In 2019 the City established a Small Cell Aesthetics guideline which outlined permit procedures, design standards and location preferences. The goal is to encourage preferred locations, collocation, and maintaining the unique community character and distinct aesthetics using "stealth" techniques and, for our residents, providing advance notification of pending applications. Congress should support the City's efforts in establishing and implementing such standards for the welfare of all. Local government strongly endorses promoting competition for all consumers and treating like services alike. The elected leaders of our nation's cities and counties stand ready and willing to welcome video competition in their communities. Centralizing franchising at the federal or state level, however, limits the benefits of head -to -head video competition to a chosen few, and deprives consumers of important protections. The FCC Recent FCC actions to regulate local franchising have compromised local governments' ability to act in the best interests of their citizens. Congress should act to prevent the FCC from overstepping its authority and altering the balance of federal, state, and local authority that Congress established in the Cable Act. The FCC's recent orders fly in the face of the law and threaten to disrupt long-standing cable television franchise agreements. Although the courts have upheld the transparency rule but vacated the no -blocking and no -unreasonable - discrimination rules, there is no guarantee from the FCC of net neutrality. The new arrangement stands to benefit large ISPs immensely while potentially harming small start-ups, entrepreneurs, and consumers especially in locations where providers are limited. Although there is a disclosure requirement and providers are prevented from engaging in unfair, deceptive, and anticompetitive practices, issues will be handled after occurring and providers could bypass unfair practices in the name of "reasonable, network management." 231 Page REQUESTED ACTION 1. States where statewide or state-controlled franchising is currently in place do not see greater or faster video competition deployment than states where it is not. 2. Franchises do not just provide permission to offer video services. They are the core tools local government uses to manage streets and sidewalks, provide for public safety, enhance competition, and collect compensation for private use of public land. Eliminating local franchises deprives local government of the power to perform basic functions. 3. Competition is for everyone. Current national policy implemented through franchises encourages competition throughout the country, not just in urban or suburban areas and not just for the wealthy. In less than ten years, under the current system, broadband service has been made available to 91 percent of all homes passed by cable. 4. Neither Congress nor the FCC should try to manage local streets and sidewalks from Washington. National franchising would abrogate a basic tenet of federalism by granting companies access to locally owned property on federally defined terms. 5. Market factors, not local governments, control the pace of new broadband deployment. Telephone companies have not yet seriously dedicated resources to negotiate franchises in many markets. Potential video competitors require relatively few franchises to implement their announced business plans (for AT&T 1,500-2,000 franchises, for Verizon 100-200 franchises). Tech Entrepreneurship and Competition. States and localities benefit from, and support, competition and innovation and technology neutrality. When a fully competitive market does not exist, states and localities must retain the authority to ensure nondiscriminatory access to essential facilities, to prevent incumbents from using market power to stifle competition and innovation, and to maintain consumer safeguards when market forces fail. There are arguments for and against net neutrality. The City of Dubuque supports efforts for Internet to remain a level playing field for all and the FCC to protect an "open internet." Given Dubuque's focus on small business and innovation, Dubuque would likely be impacted by the anti -competitive risks that come with ending net neutrality more than other Iowa communities. REQUESTED ACTION The City supports legislation that would restore net neutrality. Broadband Acceleration Initiative In 2016 the City of Dubuque launched its Broadband Acceleration Initiative. Operating primarily in public/private collaborations, the Initiative has been a resounding success by increasing broadband access, capacity, speeds, and competitors. Every business center has redundant high-speed access and a five-year fiber -to -the -home build -out is underway. Recently the City has added a strong equity component to the initiative, beginning with free local Wi-Fi and low-cost access options in our lowest income census tracks. Universal, affordable, high-speed access is the goal, and we are making progress. However, that progress is hampered by outdated governmental data, policies, and funding priorities. We believe that the following Federal 241 Page Broadband Initiatives/Efforts are critical to the continued success of Dubuque's Broadband Acceleration Initiative. REQUESTED ACTION Immediate and accurate revision of FCC broadband access maps. It has been acknowledged by industry and both political parties that these maps, which underly both federal policy and funding decisions on broadband, are outdated, use inaccurate information and are subject to manipulation by incumbent carriers. Until consensus mapping and data is available, uncouple federal broadband funding decisions from the current FCC "targeted service area" calculations. As an example, when using ACS census data, Dubuque shows several lower -income census tracts where 25% to 30% of households reporting no consistent internet access. However, the "TSA" map by the FCC shows no (zero) targeted service areas anywhere in the community of Dubuque. 3. Provide flexibility for the USDA ReConnect Loan and Grant Fund and other broadband access programs to allow rural and small urban areas (under 100,000 in population) to collaborate on broadband infrastructure and costs. These areas are intimately connected via transportation networks, labor -sheds, power systems, and the like. The ability to scale rural efforts via collaboration with small urban areas would accelerate broadband access to both. 4. From a policy perspective, allow municipalities to treat broadband access as an essential corporate purpose and dissuade state policymakers from creating state level barriers for municipal action on broadband. The availability of accurate and readily accessible data, consistent collection methods across all carriers/providers and data visualization tools provides a potential means of maintaining an open and fair internet. By guaranteeing comprehensive, quality information on broadband access, bandwidth, and speeds across all delivery methods, will result in an ability for cities to monitor services in our communities. The outcome of this initiative results in an ability to identify and respond to telecommunications equity needs in communities serving those most needing broadband services. REQUESTED ACTION Support the FCC must collect and disseminate granular broadband service availability data (broadband maps) from wired, fixed -wireless, satellite, and mobile broadband providers. To do this, the FCC is required to establish the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (a dataset of geocoded information for all broadband service locations, atop which broadband maps are overlaid) as the vehicle for reporting broadband service availability data. Additionally, the FCC must put forth specified requirements for service availability data collected from broadband providers, and it must create a challenge process to enable the submission of independent data challenging the accuracy of FCC broadband maps. 251 Page 8. CITY/COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES/PROTECTIVE SERVICES a. COMBINED COMMUNICATION CENTER The need for a combined 911 Communications Center and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been brought to the forefront of the public safety committee after multiple recent events. The current communications center is undersized for the needs of our increased population and calls for service. The center is unable to expand to meet the increasing demands of the emergency calls and for future technologies. The recent disasters that occurred in Dubuque County and the State of Iowa brought the need for a dedicated emergency operations center to the forefront. The city and county now use the classroom areas of the Dubuque County Firefighters Training Center which is converted as needed to an EOC operation. An extended flooding event along the Mississippi River or any other long-term disaster would tax the resources of the city and county and the current set up would hamper our response to disasters. We are experiencing more major weather events and disasters and we have received eight presidential disaster declarations in the past 18 years. With the recent Pandemic, the Communications Center had to spit into two rooms because there was not enough room for the dispatchers to be socially distant from one another due to the small size of the Center. Several call takers had to be moved to another room which caused a slowdown in response times due to not being in the same room. The City's 911 center needs to have room available for expansion. A dedicated EOC will allow local government the ability to enhance response and recovery operations following an event it would also assist us in preparing for planned events that overtax our response capabilities. REQUESTED ACTION Assist the City of Dubuque and Dubuque County in identifying funding support for a combined 911 Center/EOC estimated to cost $16-$19 million dollars. b. CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTER GRANTS In weighing opportunities for future expansion of fire units, the City must support vital federal programs like the Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) grant program. This program can help the City as it seeks to expand firefighter and paramedic numbers in the future. REQUESTED ACTION Support federal efforts to maintain and expand the Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) grant program, including the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program. c. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICES PROGRAM The U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Community Relations Services (CRS) office is the only federal agency dedicated to working with community groups to resolve conflict and prevent hate crimes. DOJ CRS provides facilitation, mediation, training, and consultation services to improve communities' abilities to problem solve and build capacity. New resources are necessary to rebuild trust between local police departments and the communities they serve. CRS could launch a mini -grant program (up to $20,000 per community) to support facilitated discussions among police departments, civic groups and institutions, and residents, seeking to foster community policing approaches and address racial injustice concerns. 261 Page REQUESTED ACTION Expand the DOJ's Community Relations Services program to $30 million annually. 271 Page 9. HOUSING a. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDING The City of Dubuque relies on CDBG money to fund many of its vital programs. Projects that are at least partially funded by CDBG include rehabilitation of rental and owner -occupied housing, lead paint hazard abatement, commercial and industrial building rehabilitation and economic development, childcare referral services, credit repair programs, to support operations of several non -profits providing direct services to income -eligible individuals and families, as part of the community development/neighborhood strategy program. CDBG can be used to further weatherization efforts, alternative energy efforts, and other initiatives proposed as separate increases in the budget. Preparing additional rules and regulation for new programs, when the outcomes can be met in existing programs causes duplicative administrative efforts and required funding for those duplicated efforts. Focusing on programs that are established and produce stated outcomes will help decrease the overall budget of the United States. In the last ten years, the City's formula allocation of CDBG funding has been cut by nearly 32 percent, or $444,283. This severe cut has hurt local communities — local economies, local projects, and, most importantly, the low- and moderate -income households that reside in these communities and need the assistance. Due to reductions in funding, we expect to serve several thousand fewer low and moderate - income people than we served in 2010. In addition, we expect to serve fewer households with housing development programs like down -payment assistance or homeowner rehabilitation. The CDBG formula funding has never been adjusted for inflation (since the inception of the program in 1974), even though construction costs, wages, and other program costs have escalated sharply in the past four decades. Continued funding of CDBG is needed to provide the flexibility for communities to fund a myriad of activities, fill gaps where needed, and attract additional resources to projects. At this time, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is funded at $3.45 billion (maintaining the increased funding level provided to CDBG in FY18). The proposed budget for CDBG is $3.8 billion for FY 2022. CDBG resources create economic opportunity, suitable living environments, and provide decent housing. Nearly % of the households in the City of Dubuque are considered at or below moderate income by HUD's standards, meaning CDBG resources impact a significant number of our local community members. We strongly encourage the consideration to increase CDBG funding in FY 2022. REQUESTED ACTION The City of Dubuque asks our congressional members to support the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and urge you to appropriate $3.8 billion in formula funding for the program in FY 2022. CDBG has been critical in meeting the public improvement, public services, economic development, and affordable housing needs in our community. Further, there is great opportunity for this program to support the funding needs of the USEPA Lead and Copper Rule and assist with the replacement or rehabilitation of lead water service lines. The City of Dubuque also requests increased funding for the administration of the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. b. MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY PROTECTIONS Legislation related to mobile homes and mobile home communities was adopted at a time when mobile homes were truly mobile. Today, mobile homes are more stationary than they have been 281 Page historically. However, Iowa laws have not been updated to reflect this important and highly consequential change. Today, some companies are using current law to their financial benefit and to the detriment of mobile home community residents. These predatory practices are putting vulnerable citizens in financially precarious situations and sometimes in financial jeopardy. Mobile home communities can be a viable choice in Iowa's efforts to create affordable housing opportunities across the state. Therefore, review and reform of current law is vital. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Support the requested Federal Trade Commission investigation into predatory and unfair business practices by investment companies that has been advanced by members of Iowa's congressional delegation. 2. Support Congressional legislation HR 5547 Manufactured Housing Community Preservation Act of 2020. c. ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS ANCHOR institutions, including hospitals and healthcare systems, colleges, universities, and cultural institutions, are driving economic development, job creation, and private investments in the struggling communities they serve. Over the past decade, a national ecosystem of professional associations, foundations, networks, and consultants has evolved to develop and implement anchor institution - centered approaches to produce targeted community benefits. With this national network of resources in place, federal investment could play a key role in catalyzing and supporting the power of anchor institutions to create vibrant communities. America's cities and towns call for the creation of a new Anchoring Neighborhoods, Communities & Housing to Opportunities for Revitalization (ANCHOR) Institutions Initiative at HUD that would provide $250,000 strategic planning grants to communities to boost economic development and revitalization in neighborhoods through collaboration with key local anchors. These HUD ANCHOR grants would support a local plan and/or pilot program that aligns shared interests and leverages partners' respective strengths to promote improvement in key impact areas: affordable housing, educational equity, health and wellness, safe and accessible neighborhoods, healthy nutrition, and workforce development. REQUESTED ACTION Create a HUD "ANCHOR Institutions Initiative" $25 million annually. 291 Page 10. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT a. EDA GRANT PROGRAMS The Economic Development Administration's (EDA) grant programs, which are targeted to Census tracts and regions with economic distress, areas impacted by company closures, energy sector disruptions or major disasters, and federal Opportunity Zones, provide matching funding for public infrastructure, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and economic development projects to leverage private sector investment and create jobs. Between FY2012-FY2018, EDA invested over $1.9 billion in 4,710 economic development projects, leveraging $15 in private investment plus 1-to-1 local match for every dollar in EDA funding. A look at 11 years of investments shows that EDA-supported projects generated over 622,000 jobs and $35 billion in wages and salaries. EDA is funded at approximately $320 million per year, and Congress provided an additional $1.5 billion to EDA in the CARES Act to support economic development projects to respond to the COVID downturn. These resources are highly oversubscribed, forcing the EDA to turn down many meritorious projects. As the nation seeks to rebuild from the COVID crisis and support business investment and innovation. REQUESTED ACTION Boost, broaden, and expedite the review of EDA grants to $500 million annually Congress should increase annual grant funding to EDA. EDA should also consider new sectors such as tourism, outdoor recreation, and health as additional program priorities and expedite the processing of grant applications to be more reactive to critical funding needs. b. FEDERAL HISTORIC TAX CREDITS The Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit is the nation's largest federal incentive promoting urban and rural revitalization through private investment in reusing historic buildings. The credit encourages reinvestment in downtowns, generates jobs, and is instrumental in preserving the historic places that give cities, towns, and rural areas their unique character. For every one dollar invested through the Federal Historic Preservation tax credit, five dollars are leveraged from the private sector. The credit is not paid until all the restoration work is complete and approved by the US Department of Interior. Dubuque has seen total improvements valued at $825 million since 1985 in the downtown, on Main Street and on the riverfront. Of note: The Historic Tax Credit Coalition is working on a legislative proposal to eliminate the basis reduction requirement for the Historic Tax Credit in its entirety. Experts estimate that making this change would almost entirely make up for the lost value from the new requirement that the credit be taken over five years. REQUESTED ACTION 1. The temporary increase to 30% for the pandemic. 2. The provisions of HTC-GO. 3. Regulatory relief from the NPS on application turnaround, functionally related complexes, full staffing of the program, more outreach to stakeholders, and looking at updating the Secretary's standards to modernize them. 4. Regulatory relief from the IRS to help offset the damage done to the market from tax reform and 50(d) guidance. 5. Consideration of HTC eligibility for Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) credit if the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) revises its recent rules. 301 Page c. NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT PROGRAM The New Markets Tax Credit program provides a potential financing tool for major economic development projects in Dubuque including the Historic Millwork District restoration and revitalization and the Dubuque Pack site redevelopment. Unfortunately, the program has not benefited rural states and communities in the same manner it has benefited larger metro centers. Expanding and streamlining the program and helping to ensure it is accessible to smaller communities in rural states would benefit the City of Dubuque and its partners in the private sector. Additionally, the flexibility of the program is desirable, but its accompanying complexity increases legal, accounting, and Community Development Entity (CDE) fees since each project is unique and thus requires extensive planning and oversight to achieve and maintain program compliance. These increased fees reduce the amount of equity available for the project, often rather significantly. Finding ways to streamline the program would benefit projects and communities that make use of this funding tool. REQUESTED ACTION Continued support of this important program for urban revitalization and support any opportunities to simplify the program for the end user. d. CHILDCARE Access to quality affordable childcare supports our economy by allowing parents to participate fully in the workforce. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 67% of children under the age of 6 in the United States have all available parents in the workforce, and 60% of children under the age of 5 participated in regular weekly care arrangements prior to COVID-19 In general, today's childcare model is not sustainable for either the parent or the childcare provider — the cost is too high for parents to afford compared to their wages, and simultaneously the wages for the childcare providers are too low to attract and retain quality employees. Creating supports for both parents and childcare providers bolsters our workforce and helps our employers retain employees with children. COVID-19 has exacerbated this issue. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Increase the amount of pretax dollars that families can place in employer -sponsored dependent care assistance plans (DCAPs), therefore providing families with more options and financial tools to keep up with rising childcare costs." 2. Develop legislation/programs to support increased wages and benefits for childcare providers. e. EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfield & Land Revitalization program has been a bipartisan success for 25+ years, created by President Bill Clinton, authorized with the signature of President George W. Bush, and improved through the BUILD Act enacted by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in 2018. This EPA program provides grants to support environmental investigations, cleanup, reuse planning, and workforce development to revitalize closed factories, abandoned gas stations, and other contaminated sites. To date the program has helped leverage 180,200 jobs, leveraged $35 billion in investment, cleaned up 2,261 properties, and helped make 311 Page 144,000+ acres ready for reuse. EPA provides approximately $80 million annually in brownfield grants, but many highly ranked applications do not receive funding. REQUESTED ACTION Congress should permanently fund the EPA brownfield program at its 2017 authorized level of $250 million annually, and focus on economic recovery, resiliency, renewable energy, and greenspace. f. "BUILD BACK PLANNING GRANT" PROGRAM In 2020, cities and counties across the nation faced unprecedented economic instability, social unrest, public health challenges, and climate impacts, with vulnerable populations bearing the brunt. The year 2021 will mark the start of local efforts to build back. However, COVID-19 and its resulting impacts are likely to have long-term effects on how communities operate. Communities must reconsider key issues for progress such as the relationships between housing, mobility, urban space, digital infrastructure, and public health. Federal agencies must work together to help localities develop forward- looking plans that support their evolution to the "next normal." Furthermore, planning efforts should ensure that America's most vulnerable populations (e.g., minorities, working families, low-income households) are central in local recovery strategies. Community -wealth building approaches must be implemented to produce broadly shared economic prosperity, racial equity, and environmental sustainability. An interagency task force, including the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS), and other federal agencies, should launch a Build Back Planning program, modeled after the successful joint HUD -EPA -DOT "Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Development" launched by the Obama- Biden Administration in 2009, and its Sustainable Communities Challenge Initiative grant program. The Build Back Planning Grants would provide at least 50 pilot grants of $500,000 each to align federal resources behind local efforts to chart their post-COVID future and provide opportunities for low- income and minority Americans to build wealth. REQUESTED ACTION Establish a new intergovernmental agency "Build Back Planning Grant" program $25 million annually. g. ARTS & CULTURE Arts, culture, the creative economy, and related educational opportunities are powerful forces in our nation's economy. The sector drives tourism and arts -related commerce supports American workers — from graphic and software designers to scholars, architects, artists, performers, and curators - while inspiring our communities in entrepreneurial efforts. Arts and culture institutions and programs allow Americans to dream of fresh possibilities and to expand their horizons as thinkers and citizens in a world of complex ideas and technologies, as well as to contribute to the cultural legacy of the nation. Access to imagination and artistic creativity is an inherent good; it also can awaken the potential for a better quality of life. Engagement with the arts allows Americans to fully realize their creative and imaginative potential as individuals and as communities. America's creative economy is larger than construction, agriculture, and travel sectors. 321 Page • The arts, culture, and creative economy is a $804.2 billion industry, and represent $26 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue. The arts mean business, accounting for 4.3% of the nation's annual GDP. • The United States has exported more arts and cultural goods and services than it imported since 2006, including during the Great Recession. In 2015, the arts delivered an economic advantage, generating a $21 billion annual trade surplus. • The arts equal jobs, employing 5 million workers. • The NEH budget serves as a significant leveraging tool that has helped create an entire industry of locally based small business and jobs that cannot be outsourced; in FY20, the NEH estimates that its investment in grantees will leverage an additional $2.2 million in third -party support and $1.5 million in private sector philanthropy in humanities projects. • $1 of NEA direct funding leveraging up to $9 in private and other public funds and returns $12.6 billion in federal income taxes. • A significant percentage of NEA grants go to those who have fewer opportunities to participate in the arts. 64% NEA direct grants go to small organizations (with operating budgets of less than $2 million) and that nearly 14% go to projects that feature some rural component. According to Americans for the Arts' reporting, financial losses as a result of COVID-19 for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations on a national level are an estimated $14.6 billion, as of December 2020. 99% of producing and presenting organizations cancelled events —a loss of $481 million admissions and $15.2 billion in audience spending at local businesses (e.g., restaurants, lodging, retail, parking). The total economic impact of organizational and audience -spending losses is $5.04 billion in lost government revenue and 867,000 jobs no longer being supported. Arts organizations, artists, and the broader arts workforce are vital contributors to the nonprofit sector, are essential to the economy, vitality, and wellbeing of the communities they serve, and they must be supported by all forms of relief. The Dubuque City Council prioritizes arts and culture, identifying access to diverse arts and culture experiences as one of their eight 2036 goals. In 2015, the Arts and Culture Master Plan was commissioned and funded, with the resulting plan adopted in 2016. Since 2005, the City has provided over $3.9 million dollars in financial support to Dubuque arts and cultural organizations through direct grant programs and a public art program. According to a 2012 Economic Impact Study conducted by Americans for the Arts, Dubuque's non-profit arts and culture sector in Dubuque generates $47.2 million in annual economic activity, supports 1,530 FTE jobs, generates $5 million in local and state tax revenues, and infuses $36.7 million in household incomes to local residents. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Support the administration's FY22 budget request of $201 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which calls for the largest increase in the history of the NEA. Support the administration's FY22 increased funding request for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), calling for a $10 million increase over FY21 levels. Support funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) at or above FY21 levels 331 Page 2. Support the administration's FY22 increased funding request forth e Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS), calling for a $8 million increase over FY21 levels. 3. Support increased investment in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA) and its Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) program. 4. Fully fund the $1.6 billion Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants provisions of ESSA under Title IV, Part A, as well as to make explicit the opportunity for the arts to help achieve the equitable access objectives of Title I and the professional development opportunities for arts educators under Title II. 5. Provide at least $4 million to the Institute of Education Sciences Fast Response Survey System in Arts Education study and to restore and appropriately fund the arts in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). 6. Support the Artist -Museum Partnership Act (H.R.1793) which would allow artist to take income tax deductions for the fair market value of their work when they donate it to charitable collecting institutions and enact 5.618/H.R. 1704 and pass the Legacy IRA Act (S.243) to expand and strengthen charitable giving to the nonprofit arts sector. 7. Support inclusion and investment in arts in health programs such as the National Initiative for Arts and Health Across the Military led by Americans for the Arts. 8. Support the CREATE Act (5.650, HR 1519) in order to invest in the country's creative economy; to recognize artists, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit arts organizations as contributors to the small business community; and support the creative economy through federal programs and actions. 9. Support the PLACE Act (5.3232) to help boost the nation's creative arts; strengthen capacity for a creative workforce; promote economic inclusion; boost entrepreneurship; improve and revitalize rural, remote, and underserved areas; and empower community to share their stories. 10. Incentivize businesses and local/state governments to put creative workers to work by funding creative jobs, fellowships, residencies and commissions in Federal Departments; invest in arts in K-12, higher, and out -of -school education; pass the WORK Now Act (5.740). 11. Support legislation to invest in the country's creative economy and promote economic inclusion; to recognize artists, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit arts organizations as contributors to the small business community; improve and revitalize rural, remote, and underserved areas; and support the creative economy through federal programs and actions. Direct the SBA and other agencies to ensure existing economic development programs and tools encompass the creative economy; ensure inclusion of creative fields in vocational education and training supports; increase comprehensive measurement of the impact of the creative economy on the overall US economy. 12. Support art in public transit projects by Support the Saving Transit Art Resources (STAR) Act to restore local control to transit authorities regarding the integration of art and non- functional landscaping into federally funded transit projects and facilities. 13. Support legislation and programs that improve the health and well-being of the military and veterans" populations through the arts. 341 Page 11. PUBLIC HEALTH a. PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING For the past 20 years, local public health agencies have been creating, refining, updating, and adding Public Health Emergency Preparedness Response Plans (PHEPRP.) Before and soon after the 9/11 attacks, local public health followed the national initiative of preparing for biological, chemical, radiological, weather, and other public health related disasters and emergencies. Simultaneously, we experienced more and more newly emerging infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, resistant TB, MRSA, West Nile, Ebola, Zika, Cyclospora, E. coli 0157:H7, SARS, MERS, H1N1 influenza, Toxic Shock Syndrome and others. These along with re-emerging outbreaks of diseases we thought we had conquered such as mumps, measles and whooping cough continue to persist along with outbreaks from new sources or ways of spread from pathogens such as crypto sporidia, giardia, salmonella, shigella, and Hantavirus. Congress responded to most of these with limited term, disease specific and preparedness planning funding to states, who in turn funded local health departments and public health agencies through grant processes. As the outbreaks subsided and healthcare learned to treat the infectious diseases the funding was reallocated to other priorities or cut entirely. This reactionary, short term public health funding does not create a system or public health agencies are ready to respond to epidemics and pandemics, climate, and weather -related emergencies etc. in a timely and effective manner. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Public health requires ongoing funding, education, and resources to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, including those that happen at the state, local, federal and world levels. 2. ARPA and CARES money is one-time and specifically for COVID relief. Local public health agencies (LPHAs) need dedicated, reliable, and flexible funding to deliver on their community Health Needs Assessments and Health Improvement Plans (CHNA/HIPs) and address the "social morbidities" of COVID that will be seen for years if not generations to come. b. CRESCENT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER Community Health Centers (CHC's) across the country have consistently demonstrated the value of the care they provide. Community Health Centers are an affordable and accessible source of primary and preventive health care for 23 million underserved individuals, including more than 184,000 here in Iowa. In 2020, Crescent served 7,043 patients for a total of 20,942 patient visits (includes telehealth) up from 18,756 visits in 2018. • Federal grant funding for the Health Center program currently comes from two sources: a. $1.63 billion in annual discretionary appropriations and b. $4.0 billion in the Community Health Centers Fund (CHCF). In 2015 and 2018, Congress extended the Community Health Center Fund assuring health centers a continued source of mandatory funding of $3.6 billion annually for two additional years (FY16, FY17, FY18, and FY19). The extensions temporarily averted the "Primary Care Cliff" which would have ended mandatory funding —resulting in a 70% cutback in program funding. In the current fiscal year (FY19), the nation's health centers are funded with $1.64 billion from discretionary funds and $4 billion in mandatory funds. 351 Page NHSC loan repayment and scholar programs are essential recruitment tools for community Health Centers and must be sustained. In Iowa, more than 50 providers working in CHCs are current recipients of NHSC support or have completed their obligations and chose to continue practicing at CHCs. REQUESTED ACTION 1. We ask that Congress act to ensure the future of the National Health Service Corps. Continue funding for the National Health Service Corps and the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education programs, both of which support the primary care workforce necessary to serve underserved communities with high -quality integrated care AND consider expanding it to other health care professions i.e., nursing, and those working with special populations. 2. Health centers successfully utilize the 340B program, ensuring that patients can buy their medications at affordable prices and enabling health centers to reinvest the savings into improving quality of care, extending hours, hiring clinical pharmacists, and expanding services. 3. Continue support ensuring access to the 340B program to sustain community health center's essential model of care. c. PREVENTION & PUBLIC HEALTH FUND Increases in funding are critical to addressing the nation's public health challenges and to ensure a strong public health system and a diverse and well -trained public health workforce. The nation's public health workforce is playing a leading role in combating the opioid epidemic, tracking, and monitoring infectious diseases, working to prevent vaccine -preventable disease outbreaks from occurring, including the current measles outbreaks, and protecting our children from environmental hazards, such as lead in our drinking water and homes. REQUESTED ACTION Support the House version of the FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill, which would provide significant increases for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration and would fully allocate the mandatory Prevention and Public Health Fund for important public health and prevention activities. d. CLIMATE CHANGE & HEALTH Climate change and rising temperatures expose more Americans to conditions that result in illness and death due to respiratory illness, heat -related stress, vector -borne disease, wildfires, and extreme weather events. Climate change raises temperatures and makes ozone pollution worse, triggering asthma attacks and permanently damaging and reducing lung function and causing or affecting newly emerging infectious diseases. These maladies fall most heavily on our most vulnerable communities including children, seniors, low-income communities, some communities of color and those with chronic disease. 361 Page Efforts to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gases should maximize benefits to health and ensure pollution is cleaned up in all communities, including those near polluting sources that have historically borne a disproportionate burden from air pollution. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Support efforts to clean up major sources of carbon pollution and other greenhouse gases, including power plants, cars, trucks, and other mobile sources. In addition, policy to address climate change must not weaken or delay the Clean Air Act or the authority that it gives the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce carbon emissions. 2. Cosponsor/Support the Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act to support increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Climate and Health Program to provide the nation's public health workforce with the resources, technical assistance and funding they need to best protect their communities from the health threats associated with climate change. e. LEAD POISONING The toxic legacy of lead still impacts over half a million American children under the age of six every year —causing irreversible damage and robbing them from reaching their full potential. In Iowa Exposure occurs through exposures from air, drinking water, food, contaminated soil, and deteriorating paint. An estimated 1.1 million housing units are among the most at -risk for causing childhood lead poisoning across the US. In Dubuque 42% of Housing was built prior to 1960, indicating a large portion of the housing stock contains lead hazards. Lead poisoning robs children of their ability to thrive and contribute. Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning because they absorb 4-5 times as much ingested lead as adults from a given source. Lead exposure changes the structure and function of children's developing brains, causing damage that cannot be repaired. Lead exposure leads to poorer academic performance, behavioral health problems and lifelong diminished opportunity. Dubuque has made tremendous strides in lowering the incidence of lead poisoning by reducing lead paint hazards. However, with the revised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) blood lead level of concern (5ug/dL), much more lead hazard reduction and remediation are needed, including addressing lead in water/lead service lines. REQUESTED ACTION Support the Lead -Free Future Act of 2019, (HF 4416) a bill that will set standards and increase investment to support lead remediation in housing, drinking water, and soil in pre-1978 residential properties in communities across the country. f. SUPLLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CUTS In December 2019, the Trump Administration approved an administrative rule change to eligibility requirements that will result in reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The rule change negatively impacts food benefits to 700,000 unemployed people across the country, including families and children. REQUESTED ACTION Support legislation that restores Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. 371 Page g. CHILD NUTRITION REAUTHORIZATION (CNR) Every five years, the Child Nutrition Act is due for reauthorization to improve and strengthen the federal child nutrition programs, including the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) manages SFSP and CACFP. These programs provide reimbursement dollars for after -school and summer meal programs. This program is used by the Dubuque Boys and Girls Club in connection with the City's Leisure Services Department and other community organizations to provide healthy meals and snacks to children outside of schools. On average, over 15,000 meals have been provided annually to our communities' youth over a "normal" summer. In March of 2020 this program was expanded to provide much needed support for families during the COVID-19 pandemic to include grab and go meals. On January 15, 2021, the program provided its' 100,000t" meal. While the current authorization for the Child Nutrition Act, the Healthy, Hunger -Free Kids Act of 2010, expired in September 2015, the programs continue to operate. REQUESTED ACTION Reauthorize the Children Nutrition Act to continue feeding our children in need outside of school time. 381 Page 12. PLANNING a. CLIMATE CHANGE Planning plays a significant role in both climate change mitigation and adaptation. Two of the largest contributors of greenhouse gases — transportation and buildings — are influenced by planning decisions and policies. Successfully tackling climate change requires the right funding and policies and protecting the most vulnerable communities through just environmental policies. Meeting these challenges is an opportunity to create new jobs and advance long-term innovation and sustainability. The right approach to climate change and hazard mitigation will reduce costs, save lives, and create jobs. Planners are doing the work to address climate change but need support and funding at the federal level. REQUESTED ACTION Make climate change an integral part of transportation and infrastructure legislation. Climate measurement and performance should be incorporated into transportation planning and should drive investments. Regional planning agencies and federal agencies can ensure climate and clean energy targets are met. New funding should be provided for climate planning, resiliency, and investments that reduce emissions. Advance state and local resiliency plans and projects. Federal programs can have a powerful impact on protecting vulnerable people and places. Congress should fully fund resiliency and mitigation programs. Infrastructure resiliency standards should be established, and support provided for the data tools needed for effective climate planning. Support planning for emerging clean technologies and green infrastructure. The emergence of electric vehicles (EVs) and other clean energy technology demands planning for new infrastructure. Federal policy should fund planning and implementation needs for EVs and other new mobility options. Green infrastructure investments provide multiple benefits for climate, resilience, and communities. b. RECOVERY Recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and economic recession, and the scale and impact of that recovery will depend upon federal relief coming to life at the local level. Planners can help our cities, suburbs, and small towns to expand the transformative impact of recovery spending and investment. Robust federal recovery spending, coupled with planning expertise at the local level, will help communities reinvent themselves to be more equitable, more prosperous, and more resilient. Now is the time for elected officials to ensure that communities get the funding and support that they need to ensure an equitable and lasting recovery. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Continue to provide relief funding for state and local governments. Local governments have been severely hit by collapsing revenues at a time of urgent need to assist local businesses and residents, especially those hit hardest by the pandemic. Flexible funding 391 Page to local government and public agencies will keep planning and critical functions operating and ensure communities recover more equitably and more quickly. 2. Support public transportation and essential public agencies. Public transportation agencies face enormous fiscal challenges because of the pandemic but provide a lifeline of access and mobility for essential workers and communities. Effective recovery legislation should provide support to transit and other vital agencies Ensure housing security. The pandemic has accelerated the impacts of an existing housing crisis and has exposed many people to an immediate housing emergency. Tools like emergency homeless assistance grants, aid for tenants and landlords, eviction moratoria, and funding for affordable housing are important for immediate relief and longer -term recovery. c. TRANSPORTATION & BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE Key opportunities are present to invest in infrastructure to provide economic stimulus, aid communities in recovery, and connect people to opportunity. This investment must include broadband infrastructure funding and planning. The coronavirus pandemic demonstrated how critical reliable internet access is for workers, students, and all community residents. Now is the time for a new approach. We must not allow lack of access to reliable transportation or broadband services deny parts of our communities' access to employment, education, healthcare, and other services. We must ensure that transportation and broadband infrastructure investment and planning prioritize community recovery and an equitable future. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Fund transportation infrastructure sustainably. Sustainable, reliable transportation funding supports the implementation of planned projects and enables smart planning for long-term recovery. A greater share of funding should be allocated to communities and regions. 2. Incorporate critical climate and resiliency planning into the transportation reauthorization. Resilient infrastructure planning reduces cost, uncertainty, and risk and protects communities that have long suffered from environmental injustice. 3. Expand support for public transportation, biking, walking, and safety while incorporating critical program reforms 4. Fund planning for emerging needs, new technologies, and equitable recovery. 5. Incorporate broadband planning and implementation in infrastructure legislation. Broadband is a vital part of investment in an equitable recovery to ensure equal access to jobs, education, healthcare, and opportunity. 6. Fully fund THUD infrastructure and development programs. d. HOUSING The coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn have placed a housing crisis on top of an existing housing crisis. As rent relief, unemployment, and eviction moratoria come to an end, communities already feeling the housing crunch are facing increased housing and homelessness challenges. Affordable, accessible housing is essential to building wealth and increasing economic mobility. Planning and code reforms, combined with smart investments in housing and transportation, will help bridge 401 Page the racial wealth gap and increase economic opportunity for all. Communities cannot wait for the heightened housing crisis to be addressed. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Invest in housing affordability. Federal funding for critical housing needs should be a component of recovery efforts, stimulus legislation, and regular annual appropriations. Full funding for proven programs should be bolstered with recovery assistance and long- term investments. 2. Incorporate housing into transportation programs. Transportation reauthorization provides a platform for improving the integration of housing into federal infrastructure investments. New legislation should increase planning for transit -oriented development, encourage coordination, and prioritize access to housing and economic opportunity. 3. Create incentives for code and zoning reform. States and communities across the country are taking a fresh look at development codes and zoning with the goal of ensuring local rules support housing affordability, availability, and safety. Federal programs can help by supporting analysis, offering technical assistance, and establishing incentives for action. 4. Restore Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. Fair housing is a cornerstone of addressing social equity and racial injustice. AFFH rules at HUD help communities understand obstacles to fair housing and patterns of housing opportunity. Recent efforts to undermine AFFH should be rolled back with HUD taking a fresh look at how best to implement this mandate from the Fair Housing Act. e. CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM The Certified Local Government (CLG) program was established as part of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 to create federal, state, and local governmental partnerships, provide historic preservation training and technical assistance, and encourage preservation and wise use of historic resources at the local level. In Iowa, the Certified Local Government program is one of the historic preservation offerings of the State Historic Preservation Office, part of the State Historical Society of Iowa, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. To participate in the CLG program, a local government must have a local historic preservation program that complies with CLG program requirements. To qualify for or obtain "certified status", the local government must demonstrate that its local historic preservation program meets certain standards. For the local government, its staff and Historic Preservation Commission, there are some direct benefits of participating in the CLG program. There is free historic preservation training and technical assistance from the State's historic preservation staff. Participating cities and counties receive a start-up preservation reference library for use in developing and administering the program. Cities and counties in the CLG program qualify for a small, competitive, matching CLG grant program that is open only CLG program participants. These federal pass -through grants can be used to underwrite all historic preservation activities except rehabilitation. 411 Page In Iowa, the CLG program has helped cities and counties to develop their local historic preservation programs as a tool to help promote downtown revitalization; to protect, stabilize and revive historic neighborhoods; and to provide an authentic foundation for heritage tourism. REQUESTED ACTION The City of Dubuque supports continued federal funding for the Certified Local Government (CLG) Program. 421 Page 13. SUSTAINABLE & RESILIENT COMMUNITIES The City of Dubuque identified becoming a more sustainable city as one of its top priorities in 2006. Since then, multiple strategies and practices have been implemented to make Dubuque a more sustainable community. In 2016, the City was honored to be recognized as one of the White House's 16 Climate Action Champions. The City is a member of Climate Communities and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network and joins those organizations in supporting local government action on climate change and resiliency as essential for America to achieve energy independence, renew economic prosperity and preserve biodiversity. Federal policies must empower local governments with the tools and resources to respond to the climate challenge. We request your support in achieving the following goals: • Invest in local climate capacity through annual federal appropriations such as the Department of Energy Clean Cities program, the US Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry program, Storm water and Drinking Water funding, municipal energy efficiency programs and Green Infrastructure programs. • Build self-reliant communities that are prepared for climate impacts. • Support community revitalization by enacting legislation that enables basic sustainability principles, such as historic preservation, improved energy efficiency, brownfield redevelopment, and community redevelopment. Weatherization Assistance Program Dubuque, like communities across the country, is striving to increase equitable access to affordable housing for all residents. Excessive energy costs exacerbate the housing cost burden low-income residents experience. On average, low-income households spend 7.8 percent of annual income on energy services, compared to 3 percent of income for all households. Recognizing the increasing cost of energy and the significant impact this required cost has on low- and moderate -income residents, the City advocates for continued sufficient funding of the Weatherization Assistance Program and that funds be used to invest in home improvements wherever possible. By investing in improvements rather than assisting with energy bills, these funds can be used to fix the root of the problem rather than putting a band -aid on it. National Energy Planning Policy The City encourages adoption of a long-term, sustainable national energy policy, addressing decreasing availability of petroleum, energy self-sufficiency, economic competitiveness, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental protection, and social equity. This policy should recognize and separate the long-term development of replacement and alternative energy sources from short-term fluctuations in market prices for energy. This policy should also recognize the impact that energy -efficient land use patterns, building design, and transportation modalities have on the demand for energy. Data and Measurement The City recognizes the importance of easy, consistent, and affordable access to energy data at the community level as an integral component of energy, sustainability, healthy communities, and community planning. We advocate for transparent data processes that allow communities to review utility data while also ensuring adequate data security and privacy. 431 Page Energy Impacts We encourage evaluating the energy related impacts along with other impacts resulting from proposed plans and development related to the siting of energy generation and transmission facilities in order to mitigate their adverse impacts on land use, environment, economy, health, quality of life, and national security. PACE Financing We encourage federal and state legislation supporting Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing so that the costs associated with energy efficiency improvements can be shared by the property owners who experience the benefits of those improvements. Environmental Justice We support state and federal efforts in striving to attain environmental equity and justice with regard to the siting of energy facilities, resource extraction, energy generation, distribution infrastructure, and energy -related waste disposal. Distributed Energy Generation The City supports distributed energy generation systems that utilize community energy generation and "smart grid" public infrastructure that supports both conservation and energy efficiency. Smart Grid Technology We support modernization of the nation's electrical grid that will allow for the efficient integration of innovative technologies such as renewable energy systems and electric vehicles and makes it possible to offer dynamic electricity pricing options that can reduce strain on the grid while benefitting consumers. Advances in metering technology also create opportunities to provide consumers with access to more information about their electricity usage and costs, which can inform their decisions about energy consumption. Research and Development The City recognizes that in the short-term, oil, coal, and natural gas will continue to be significant sources of energy for the United States and other nations until other forms of energy can be developed at a scale to adequately replace the world's reliance on fossil fuels. Therefore, continued focused research and development in improving the efficient use of these sources while reducing the environmental costs must be a high priority for the United States. We support expanded research and development funding and efforts to create and improve alternative and renewable energy sources and the development of energy transition scenarios for use by local officials and the general public. EPA Office of Community Revitalization EPA has provided localities with targeted technical assistance in the areas of green building, mobility, equitable development, flood resilience, food security, outdoor recreation, and other smart growth topics through its Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program. EPA/Congress should strengthen the Building Blocks program by providing direct grants to localities of up to $500,000 to implement specific strategies identified through the technical and planning assistance. This financial support will enable cities and counties to protect the environment, improve health, and strengthen their economies. DOE Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Program Introduced in 2009 to support recovery efforts following the Great Recession, the U.S. Department of 441 Page Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program provided funding to local governments, states, U.S. territories, and Indian tribes to support a wide variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy activities. Oak Ridge National Laboratory determined that this successful one-time national effort created 62,900 jobs, generated $5.2 billion in lifetime energy cost savings, and avoided 25.7 million metric tons of carbon emissions — all while spurring a new generation of clean energy investments. Faced with another economic crisis, the EECBG program should be resurrected to help America rebuild again. This green stimulus spending will help cities and counties launch a range of initiatives, including energy efficiency building retrofits, financial incentives for energy efficiency, building code support, renewable energy installations, distributed energy technologies, transportation activities, recycling and waste management efforts, and other sustainable actions. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Expand funding to the EPA Office of Community Revitalization to $25 million annually. 2. Restore and reinvigorate the DOE Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant program to $3.5 billion annually. 451 Page 14. INDIAN GAMING REGULATIONS The City is concerned about the uncontrolled growth of Indian Casinos on off premises (reservation) lands. The City supports legislation that places safeguards on the growth of Indian casinos. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Rewrite Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which authorizes reservation shopping. This means that under no circumstances can a tribe that already has land in trust acquire more land that is not contiguous to its reservation and use it for gaming. This will put a permanent end to reservation shopping. 2. Give local communities a seat at the table during the process to mitigate impacts of casinos proposed by newly recognized or restored tribes. This means the tribe and local community must enter into a memorandum of understanding where the tribe must pay the community for mitigation of direct effects of the casino on infrastructure and services like transportation and public safety. 3. Ban any attempts to establish off -reservation casinos outside of the state where the tribe presently resides. 4. Allow States to regulate Fantasy Sports and internet gambling. 461 Page 15. EQUITY The City of Dubuque's Imagine Dubuque Comprehensive Plan is premised in the three legs of sustainability — having a viable, livable, and equitable community. As the plan notes, "[a]n equitable community is welcoming, fair, and just with the opportunity for people to have the realistic hope of achieving their goals." Yet locally, regionally, and nationally we continue to see the continuing effects of historical discrimination against African Americans and additional communities of color. Across all indicators of wellbeing — health, education, employment, housing, criminal justice — race can still be used as a predictor of negative life outcomes in the aggregate. The City is a member of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity and joins communities across the nation in supporting local government action on advancing equity, leading with race. Federal policies must empower local governments with the tools and resources to advance racial equity. We request your support through the following legislative actions. a. MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING Mandatory minimum sentences are punishments ordered by judges with terms set by Congress to those who have been convicted of crime; they dictate that certain crimes require, by law, a set amount of time in prison. Mandatory minimum sentencing laws effectively strip judges of their authority to take the circumstances of a crime into account and shift sentencing power to prosecutors who often use the threat of these laws to intimidate defendants into pleading guilty in order to receive a reduced sentence (Written Submission of the American Civil Liberties Union on Racial Disparities in Sentencing, 2014). In theory, mandatory minimum sentencing laws are "race neutral" and should affect everyone who has been convicted of a crime equally regardless of race. In practice, however, this is very much not the case. Judges are more likely to levy heavier sentences against people of color in general than they are against whites, while federal prosecutors are over twice as likely to charge black defendants with offenses that carry a mandatory minimum than white defendants (Report to the United Nations on Racial Disparities in the U.S. Criminal Justice System, 2018). REQUESTED ACTION Support striking mandatory minimum sentencing provisions, allowing judges to apply the federal sentencing guidelines with individualized reviews that take facts into consideration in determining the appropriate sentence. b. EXPAND THE EARNED INCOME AND CHILD TAX CREDITS The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) are useful antipoverty measures that still leave too many people out. In the case of the EITC, the beneficiaries are largely families with dependent children. Childless adults generally find that their EITC is severely inadequate compared to families with children; childless adults receive an average of $219 in EITC compared to adults with children who receive several thousand more depending on the number of qualifying children (Williams, 2019). The result is that over 5 million Americans are unable to escape poverty or are further impoverished. As for the CTC, although it was increased by $1000 for each child, the 2017 tax law that changed it excluded tens of millions of working families getting the full increase (Marr, Huang, & Palacios, 2020). Expanding the EITC for childless adults would lift an estimated 5 million Americans out of poverty (Marr & Huang, Childless Adults Are Lone Group Taxed Into Poverty, 2020). Making the CTC fully refundable would have similar effects for over 27 million children from low-income families (Marr, Hingtgen, Arloc, Windham, & Cox, 2020). For tax year 2021, the EITC has been made more generous on a temporary basis. These changes should be made permanent and expanded even further. 471 Page REQUESTED ACTION Support legislation to permanently expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and/or the Child Tax Credit. c. INCREASE THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE At $7.25 an hour, the federal minimum wage has not changed since 2009. Because it has not received any adjustments since that time, the buying power of a minimum wage job has decreased drastically over the years to the point where the federal minimum wage of $7.25 was worth 10% less in 2014 than it was in 2009 (Cooper, Raising the Minimum Wage to $12 by 2020 Would Lift Wages for 35 Million American Workers, 2015). The current wage is not enough to support working families. An individual working 40 hours a week would only make $15,000 a year and put them $11,200 below the poverty threshold for a family of four (Poverty Guidelines, 2020). Raising the minimum wage would lift over 4 million people out of poverty and would result in tens of millions more getting a wage increase (Cooper, Raising the Minimum Wage to $12 by 2020 Would Lift Wages for 35 Million American Workers, 2015). According to David Cooper (2019) of the Economic Policy Institute, gradually raising the minimum wage to $15 would increase the buying power of minimum wage jobs and would lead to greater wage equality between low and middle wage workers as well as lift wages for 33.5 million workers. REQUESTED ACTION Support legislation to gradually raise the minimum wage to $12 an hour or more. d. LICENSE PEOPLE WHO LEARN TRADES WHILE IN PRISON Inmates who learn trades in prison often have difficulty in finding employment when they leave, partially because they have been prevented from getting the licenses, they need to work certain jobs. While inmates may learn useful skills and receive training in prison programs, they are effectively banned from getting a license when they leave. This has far-reaching ripple effects on other issues, such as housing, for ex -offenders. If they are unable to attain steady employment, ex -offenders are much less likely to be able to access housing services. In turn, this can lead to homelessness and a host of additional economic implications. REQUESTED ACTION Support legislation that places restrictions on the use of criminal records to disqualify individuals from receiving occupational licenses for jobs such as hairdressers, taxi drivers, trades learned in prison, etc. e. REAUTHORIZE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT In 2013, the Supreme Court gutted Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which mandated that jurisdictions with histories of discriminatory voter -suppression practices be precleared before they could pass new voting laws. Much of the court's opinion was premised in the rationale that the mechanisms from the original Voting Rights Act were outdated, with Justice Roberts noting that "While any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to the current conditions." In the immediate aftermath of the court's decision, 8 states implemented voter -suppression laws and made it harder for people to vote. By 2016, 17 states had 481 Page passed some form of voting restriction. These new restrictions included requiring a photo ID in order to vote, ending same -day registration, shortening early voting, and closing down polling places in minority communities. Restrictive voting measures at the state level have only increased in the wake of false claims that the 2020 election was marred by widespread voter fraud — claims that have been rejected by numerous courts and state election officials. See Brennan Center for Justice REQUESTED ACTION Support legislation to amend the Voting Rights Act to modernize the formula that determines which jurisdictions have shown patterns of discriminatory voter -suppression practices, mandate that all voting changes must be announced in public half -a -year before an election, expand the federal government's authority to send observers to the polls, modernize voter registration with automatic, online, and same -day voter registration, restore voting rights to the previously incarcerated after they complete their sentence, restrict the ability to purge voters from the rolls, reform campaign finance transparency and strength FEC oversight, reform redistricting with independent commissions, standardized criteria and transparency. f. TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR EX -OFFENDERS Students with drug convictions will find that they must complete a drug rehabilitation program or pass random drug tests in order to receive aid from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (Leonhardt, 2019). Beyond that, students who were convicted of drug possession will be ineligible for aid for an entire year; an additional drug possession conviction adds another year of ineligibility, and a third drug possession conviction permanently prevents them from receiving aid through FAFSA. According to Betsy Pearl of the Center for American Progress, "One -fifth of the incarcerated population —or 4S6,000 individuals —is serving time for a drug charge. Another 1.15 million people are on probation and parole for drug -related offenses" (Pearl, 2018). Moreover, black people are more likely to be arrested, convicted, and serve longer sentences than white people for similar crimes. Marijuana possession charges are particularly problematic, as black people are almost eight times as likely to be arrested as white people despite roughly equal usage rates. Removing existing financial aid restrictions on individuals with drug convictions would make college viable for hundreds of thousands of people. REQUESTED ACTION Support legislation that repeals provisions that prevent individuals with drug convictions from receiving financial aid through FAFSA or, at a minimum, support legislation that allows a student who is convicted of a drug offense involving marijuana possession, without the intent to distribute, to resume or retain federal student aid eligibility while completing a drug rehabilitation program. g. FULLY FUND HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM BASED ON ACTUAL NEED Ensuring safe, affordable housing is the most cost-effective strategy for reducing childhood poverty, increasing economic mobility, and lifting people out of poverty. U.S. housing costs have been rising faster than incomes for some time. According to the Out of Reach Report, affordable rent for a two - bedroom apartment in Dubuque requires an hourly wage of $15.75 Nearly one-third of all Dubuque households are cost burdened, with 1 in 4 renters spending more than 50% of their income on housing costs. Families of color, single mother households, the elderly, and people with disabilities are 491 Page disproportionately cost burdened. There are approximately 5300 families who would meet income eligibility for vouchers but currently there is a budget for only about 900 families (16% of those eligible) and only 796 are being served. This is a national problem with only 23% of eligible renter households actually receiving a voucher. REQUESTED ACTION Support legislation that fully funds housing choice vouchers at the level of community need. Alternatively, support a legislative rider to the funding bill that restores Dubuque's funding levels to those that were in place prior to the reduction in vouchers to 900. 501 Page 16. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PRIORITIES a. AMERICORPS City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Program The City of Dubuque has sponsored its AmeriCorps Program since 2007. Since the program's inception in 2000, the AmeriCorps Program has two program prongs: Partners in Learning and Creating Opportunities and has provided the Dubuque Community with over 450,000 hours of volunteer service from over 800 AmeriCorps Alumni. In 2014, the Partners in Learning program was revamped to create a laser focus on the Dubuque Campaign for Grade -Level Reading, using AmeriCorps members as Academic Reading Tutors in the Dubuque Community School District's Elementary Schools to help students to go from learning to read to reading to learn by 3rd grade. In 2017, the Creating Opportunities program was implemented to support community engagement, mentoring, and skill development with underserved teenaged youth. The City of Dubuque's AmeriCorps Program: Partners in Learning makes measurable impacts on Dubuque's children. Data from the 2019-2020 school year shows that prior to COVID-19's impacts, 78% (189 out of 243) Dubuque Community School District K- 3rd grade students tutored by our AmeriCorps members improved their reading score from Fall 2019 — Winter 2020. Data from the 2018-2019 school year shows that 97% (462 out of 477) Dubuque Community School District K- 3rd grade students tutored by our AmeriCorps members improved their reading score from Fall 2018 — Spring 2019. This data shows the positive impact of that our program has on students, as AmeriCorps Members are able to provide positive one-on-one and small group feedback directly to students in each and every tutoring session. Teachers, school staff and instructional coaches regard our AmeriCorps Program because of the academic, social and emotional impact AmeriCorps tutors have on the students they work with. During the summer, AmeriCorps members support community organizations who serve K-3rd grade students to curb the summer slide. These organizations include the Carnegie -Stout Public Library, Dubuque Community Schools Summer Academy, Dubuque Dream Center, Leisure Services and St. Marks Youth Empowerment, all of which impact our youth whose families are from a lower -income and neighborhoods needing assistance. The involvement of AmeriCorps members is critical to efforts of the city, schools, and non -profits. The City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Program: Creating Opportunities was awarded an opportunity to provide AmeriCorps support to the Multicultural Family Center and the City of Dubuque Leisure Services Department to facilitate and increase Teen Programming during the summer. During Summer 2021, 35 of the 40 teens graduated from the Multicultural Family Center's AmeriCorps Supported Program: STEP (Summer Teen Empowerment Program), earning independent high school credit from the Dubuque Community School District and learning college/career readiness skills, workplace readiness, communication, financial literacy, team building as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion skills. Additionally, AmeriCorps members facilitated free activities and meals for community teens through a summer teen program at the Multicultural Family Center and throughout the Dubuque community through the Leisure Services Department. Our AmeriCorps program provides personal and professional growth opportunities to the members. Dubuque Community members join our program for many different reasons, including networking, on - the job experience, career experience or changes, community impact after retirement, among other reasons. AmeriCorps Alumni who are looking to enter the workforce after their term of service often have more experience and better educated, which leads to the opportunity of a higher earning potential. Many employers consider AmeriCorps Alumni to be highly valuable employees due to their time in the 511 Page program. AmeriCorps members learn civic engagement skills and connect directly with citizens, as well as build quality volunteer base in the community. OurAmeriCorps members are trained monthly on Equity topics: including Intercultural Competencies, Diversity and Inclusion, among others- leading to a deeper understanding of the community members and youth being served. Other AmeriCorps Programs in Dubuque AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members are also used by the City of Dubuque and Dubuque County to combat poverty. Currently, the City has an Economic Opportunity VISTA member serving with the Human Rights Department in collaboration with Iowa Campus Compact. Two VISTA members serving non-profit partners through the Volunteer Iowa Rural Development and Opioid VISTA Project. In the past, VISTA members have served with the community -wide Dubuque Campaign for Grade Level Reading Initiative in the areas of school readiness, attendance, and summer learning. Other departments within the City have looked into leveraging VISTA members to greater impact the community. The capacity building efforts of VISTA members are very important to these community initiatives. Dubuque also hosts Green Iowa AmeriCorps and Sustainable Schools AmeriCorps Programs. Operated through the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy and Environmental Education, Green Iowa AmeriCorps is a state-wide community service program. Green Iowa AmeriCorps Members are trained as energy auditors and contribute to a comprehensive home energy program through Green Dubuque and in partnership with the Dubuque County Energy District. Sustainable Schools AmeriCorps, a diversification of the Green Iowa AmeriCorps Program, works to reduce district -wide energy costs and assist teachers and staff in implementing environmental project -based learning initiatives. Sustainable Schools AmeriCorps Members are hosted by the Dubuque Metro Area Solid Waste Agency and support the Dubuque Community School District and Holy Family Catholic Schools. AmeriCorps Seniors in Dubuque The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is a nationwide program through AmeriCorps Seniors which exists to match volunteers aged 55 and better with volunteer positions that use their life experience and skills to meet community needs. The program is funded by a federal grant from the AmeriCorps, as well as funding from the city, county, state, and in -kind contributions from UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has 6 focus areas where volunteers serve Dubuque County. The primary focus area of RSVP is Healthy Futures. RSVP volunteers also serve in the areas of Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Non -Profit Capacity Building and General Community Priorities. National Service Partnership Dubuque is home to the nation's first National Service Partnership, a partnership between local government, higher education, local non -profits, and state government that draws on multiple AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors resources to collectively impact poverty in Dubuque. The Dubuque National Service Partnership (DNSP) uses Days of Service and other events to educate the public about community needs and opportunities to serve, while simultaneously focusing on improved business processes within organizations and improved outcomes for families served. In 2013, Governor Terry Branstad recognized the DNSP with the Iowa Non -Profit Collaboration Award for outstanding efforts to engage volunteers to impact complex social and economic needs. On September 16, 2015, the Corporation for National and Community Service recognized the Dubuque National Service Partnership with an award in honor of retired Senator Tom Harkin. The collective impact of DNSP is very important in the community. 521 Page AmeriCorps Service Impacts in Dubuque 2019-2020 Program Year • 259 Dubuque Community School students were tutored in a virtual setting by City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Program members in an effort to improve their literacy scores after COVID-19 rocked the Dubuque Community. City of Dubuque AmeriCorps • Provided summer enrichment programming to over 1500 children during the summer of 2021. Program • 78% (189 out of 243) Dubuque Community School District K- 3rd grade students tutored by our AmeriCorps members improved their reading score from Fall 2019 — Spring Winter 2020, prior to C_ the impacts of COVID-19 _O • 35 of the 40 teens graduated from the Multicultural Family Center's AmeriCorps Supported }' Ca Program: Summer Teen Empowerment Program (STEP), earning independent learning credit from z the Dubuque Community School District. • Program was impacted significantly due to COVID-19 Green Iowa Green Iowa AmeriCorps members completed 33 in -home audits and weatherizations and delivered +_J AmeriCorps 98 energy saver kits with installation support during COVID-19. � � Program cn Sustainable • In 2019-2020, Conducted 37 education events (both in and out of the classroom) engaging over 600 Q SChOOIS K-12 students within the Dubuque Community School District and Holy Family Catholic Schools. 0 AmeriCorps • Program was impacted significantly due to COVID-19 'L Program v Iowa Legal • 1 FT AmeriCorps Member Serving 1700 hours of service. Q Aid • Helped vulnerable Iowans receive civil legal advice, information, or referral needed to resolve AmeriCorps issues involving fundamental needs during the 2019-20 project year. Program was impacted significantly due to COVID-19. Program Course • 1 AmeriCorps Member served 129 students. Collegee . Conducted 20 college access workshops for students. AmeriCorps . Assisted in Chaperoning 3 college visits. College Access • Complete 305 interactions with students. • Program was impacted significantly due to COVID-19. 531 Page • 6 community volunteers that were managed by VISTA Members and/or their host site organization providing 24 hours of service to the Dubuque Community. Q • 1 organization received capacity building services. Volunteer Iowa . 1 organization completed a community assessment identifying goals. ( Rural • 1 organization reported that their VISTA support made them more efficient. Development . 1 organization reported that their VISTA support made them more effective. cn Q and Opioid VISTA Project Program was impacted significantly due to COVID-19 g p g y O U_ 14 community volunteers/staff received training as a result of capacity building services i provided by the VISTA Member and/or the host site organization. Iowa Campus • Program focuses on program enhancements and research on racial equity QO Compact programming. VISTA Program N Q Dubuque RSVP U (Retired N Senior E Volunteer Q Program) AmeriCorps Senior Volunteers served over 2700 hours supporting the Dubuque County Point of Distribution Vaccine Clinic. From February 10 to June 25, 2021, Volunteers were an essential part of the Vaccine Clinic. They served as screeners, wayfinders, assisted community members in and out of their vehicles, supported the post vaccination observation area, obtained transportation, and provided emotional support to community members. REQUESTED ACTION Support AmeriCorps and funding for National Service Partnership through the Corporation for National and Community Service. AMERICORPS BACKGROUND CHECKS On January 8, 2020, the Corporation of National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that provides oversight to all National Service programs- including AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Service Enterprise grantees, proposed a new rule that would significantly change the process of National Service Criminal History Checks required of all CNCS grantees and sub -grantees. This proposed rule makes significant changes to the current rule that will significantly impact our AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Program and other AmeriCorps grants that serve the City of Dubuque and the Greater Dubuque Area. The impacts are as follows: CNCS grantees and subgrantees will be required to use the two CNCS-approved vendors — Fieldprint and Truescreen. o Checks run through these vendors are: 1) More expensive than the current Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation 2) Provide limited results through a Pass/Fail check to the criminal history of an applicant, only reviewing the following criteria without the ability to apply program -specific criteria to all results: ■ (a) Refuses to consent to a criminal history check described in § 2540.204; 541 Page ■ (b) Makes a false statement in connection with a criminal history check described in § 2540.204 of this chapter; ■ (c) Is registered, or is required to be registered, on a state sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry; or ■ (d) Has been convicted of murder, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1111. 3) Provide significant and unequitable barriers to access to serving within the AmeriCorps program, including: ■ Requiring access to a computer, internet, ability to upload sensitive documentation, reliable transportation, significant computer literacy skills. 4) Increases administrative burden to grantees and sub -grantees. ■ These vendors will currently not agree to requested changes to liability and insurance clauses requested by the City's legal counsel. The agreements would place all liability for mishandled checks or inappropriate clearances on the City of Dubuque when the city had no control over that process. The proposed rule, as currently written, creates a significant concern for the safety of the vulnerable populations that AmeriCorps Programs serve, a significant risk to the City of Dubuque, and is a clear over -reach by the federal government. REQUESTED ACTION Oppose the new rule that would significantly change the process of "national service criminal history checks" required of all CNCS grantees and sub -grantees and continue local control of background checks at a much higher cost. c. AMERICA'S RIVER AT THE PORT OF DUBUQUE Dubuque County Historical Society dba National Mississippi River Museum Vision: Become the world's leader in interpreting and protecting the life, history, and culture of our rivers, to create a more global, knowledgeable, and engaged citizen. Dubuque County Historical Society dba National Mississippi River Museum Mission: The Dubuque County Historical Society (DCHS) and the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (NMRM&A) has become the most comprehensive river museum in the country dedicated to our mission - to inspire stewardship by creating educational experiences where history and rivers come alive. Over the past 40 years, 4.3 million people have visited the Museum & Aquarium with on -site visitation and off -site outreach reaching 275,000 annually including 75,000 school -aged children and —300 teachers. We receive an average of 84 direct requests for archival materials each year from researchers all over the world. Our 14-acre waterfront campus includes indoor and outdoor exhibits, houses over 2,000 animals representing 214 species, and stewards a significant historical collection of objects and archival materials. Our 2-acre historic campus includes a 32-room Italianate-style mansion, an Arriandeau-style Log House (Iowa's oldest building), a granary, and a one -room schoolhouse. The Museum campus features aquariums, aviaries, 2D & 4D theaters, hands-on programs, exhibits, wetlands, wet labs, a conservation lab, and water tables all with significant scientific, educational, and research functions. As visitors account for three times the entire population of Dubuque, the Museum remains a leading informal educational institution in Iowa and the Tri-State area (IA, IL, & WI) and a leading collaborator in informal STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, Museum & Aquarium is one of only 12 institutions in the 551 Page nation accredited by both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). The Dubuque County Historical Society and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: In March 2020, the DCHS closed both of our museums for ten weeks due to COVID-19. DCHS sourced the two CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP grants, was approved for an EIDL loan program, State of Iowa Arts and Culture grants, and Small Venues Operating Grant (SVOG) to support operations and retain full- time staff. Within 10 weeks of closing our doors, we lost 20,000 monthly visitors and more than 70% of our museum staff to unemployment while operating at a 60% loss in attendance. To tighten budget and focus spending on maintaining the critical infrastructure that ensures the health and welfare of collections, both living and historical, DCHS strategically engaged in the following quarterly spending reductions. In Q1, 44 full-time employees were retained under PPP and 90 part-time employees were furloughed (Apr -May). In Q2, 90 part-time staff returned and 44 full-time employees were furloughed for 2 weeks. In Q 3, 44 full-time employees participated in the Iowa Workforce Development's Voluntary Shared Work Program. March -May, outreach and on -site enrichment halted. Dozens of school field trips, spring break camps, overnights, public events including a single event loss of $30,000 cancelling our annual Taste of Dubuque event, temporary exhibits, and programs scheduled to provide learning experiences for 7,379 individuals were cancelled, resulting in $73,628 in lost revenue. The grand opening of a major new exhibit was postponed. While closed, lost revenue totaled $900,000 in 10 weeks alone, with a grand total loss of revenue reaching $2,785,312 by December of 2020. Despite this loss, our mission remained, museum teams united to create unique learning experiences and provide a safe public visit. Educational programs, tours, and community events pivoted to online learning and our annual gala was held virtually. A newly created Museum Insight series of videos were created to illuminate our museums "behind -the -scenes"— flooding our social media channels with creative new ways to engage with collections. We've tripled our distance learning portfolio and have been working with schools and youth agencies to fulfill the informal learning needs of our community. Personal calls to members and donors were made, grant -funded projects continued on timeline, and we submitted new proposals that aim to fulfill our mission and advance the organization. Total relief funds received: $2,418,157. Critical Issues the Museum & Aquarium are working to address: We believe, in the next decade, that access to clean water, loss of critically endangered species, and a necessary increase in the public understanding of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning and conservation will continue to be at the forefront of the global issues facing us all. Regional/Local: Spanning more than four decades, and across 16 acres, the Dubuque County Historical Society and National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium has been collecting, preserving, and interpreting life in Dubuque and the Mississippi River and the rivers of America. The Society's collections, both living and historical, include 2,000 animals representing 200 species, 13 buildings and vessels, 29,000 artifacts, and 22,000 archival items. Together, these collections tell the big stories of the culture, commerce, and conservation of the Mississippi River and are testament to our belief that the Mississippi River should be forever protected and interpreted in order to create a more global, knowledgeable, and engaged citizen. STRATEGIC GOALS for BROADER IMPACT 1. Reimagine Dynamic Visitor Experiences: To inspire and engage a global audience with compelling and dynamic exhibits and programmatic experiences which give meaning to STEM education in an informal learning institution. Initiative: 561 Page River of Innovation: Consisting of an intact 19th century belt -driven machine shop, themed hands-on "Innovation Current" exhibits, and a maker space spanning over 9,000 sq. ft., River of Innovation places the learner at the center of the history of boat building to interweave relevant history stories and interactive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities that will; reveal to visitors their own power to innovate; present a robust vision of innovation that address social, cultural, personal, or technological examples of innovation; and, provide authentic opportunities for visitors to create. This exhibit will broaden the Museum's current audience base and serve as an institutional model for future project development and community engagement. Combining history, culture, and STEM in ways not seen before on the Museum & Aquarium campus, River of Innovation aims to inspire the next generation to innovate. Completed - June of 2021 Federal and State of Iowa funding for River of Innovation: Since 2015, this project has received more than $250,000 in funding from the State of Iowa and over $425,000 in federal funding from both the National Endowment for the Humanities Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grant and Institute for Museum and Library Services with matching funds from corporations, individuals, and foundations for a total project cost of $3.5 million. 2. National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium as a Conservation & Research Lab: The Museum & Aquarium will be utilized as a conservation research facility to propagate threatened species, showcase new scientific discoveries, broaden partnerships, and improve habitats within the 31-state the Mississippi River watershed. Initiatives as follows: a. Promotion of conservation through Dubuque County funding provides our Take Conservation Action through Advocacy, Research, and Engagement (CAARE) by engaging in conservation action to preserve our shared future and protect our freshwater and marine habitats where our community is the beneficiary. Initiatives include: i. Advocacy— Inspiring a social and sustainable mindset within our community by encouraging positive attitudes towards change. ii. Research — Facilitate project -based learning opportunities designed to target and solve practical problems. iii. Engagement —Connect members of our community directly to authentic conservation action through hands-on experiences. Established Projects Include: a. Freshwater Mussel Propagation for Restoration —to include raising endangered freshwater mussels and improve water quality in partnership with the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Yard Management Practices — Encourage the elimination of harmful pesticides from yard management. Invasive Species Removal — Clear invasive plant species to encourage growth of native species and increase biodiversity. Host site for FrogWatch USA, a citizen science program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that provides individuals, groups, and families with an opportunity to 571 Page learn about wetlands in their communities and report data on the calls of local frogs and toads. e. Propagate over 50,000 Wyoming Toad tadpoles (since 2008) alongside USFWS and ten Association for Zoos and Aquariums affiliate organizations, which had led to removing Wyoming Toads from the endangered species list. f. Selected by the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 2019, the Museum & Aquarium will preserve coral diversity by creating a land -based ark to preserve coral diversity in the face of a devastating disease outbreak in the Florida Reef Tract. The Museum & Aquarium will house a number of corals for three years in a holding area (non-public) until they can be released. g. Monarch SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) program - The purpose of SAFE programs is to bring groups of AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) members together with field -based partners to enhance the probability of conservation success for threatened species (monarch butterflies) or a group of related taxa in the wild. SAFE species programs help AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums do more conservation in a better way. Evolving Projects Include: a. Stewardship Programs — Design project -based conservation centered programs for youth and families. b. Chose to Refuse — Foster a "Choose to Refuse" attitude among businesses to lower use of plastics. c. Establish Pollinator Habitat — Build pollinator habitats and increase monarch monitoring efforts. 3. Stewardship of our Historic and Living Collections: Taking great care in the preservation of the 41,000 items and over 2,000 animals and 200 species in our historical and living collections respectively, we plan to expand our reach in conservation and preservation activities. Mathias Ham Historic Site — Over the next six years the Museum & Aquarium will support the restoration efforts and improvements of the Mathias Ham Historic Site (2 acres) including the 32-room Italianate-style mansion listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places, built in 1856, the 1833 Arriandeau Log House (Iowa's oldest building), an 1840s granary, and the 1883 Humke one -room schoolhouse, which have all been interpreting the humanities for more than 57 years. Restoration completed in 2020. William M. Black dredge boat —The William M. Black historic vessel, is a U.S National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Black has received funding from the National Park Service's National Maritime Heritage grant program and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Funding supported lead -based paint removal, a new roof, and a new fire security system for the boat, which is a tourist destination for 205,000 people each year. Federal and State of Iowa funding to support the Mathias Ham Historic Site & the William M. Black: Projects at both of these historic sites received a combined total of $537,000 in State of Iowa and City of Dubuque funding in 2018, Federal funding was secured from the National Park Service and National 581 Page Endowment for the Humanities Infrastructure and Capacity Buildings Challenge Grant in 2016 and 2018, respectively. Work began at both sites in 2020. Opportunities for New and Continued Federal Partnerships: Continue to work with USFW, DNR and other federal and state agencies to study, nurture, and propagate important species, which are endangered or threatened and are typically not the primary focus of state Departments of Natural Resources. Species include freshwater mussels, toads, coral, and other vital and often ignored species. • Work with USDA and others to engage people to reduce nutrient loading, understand sediment flow, and improve water quality for the Mississippi, its 31-state watershed, and the Gulf of Mexico. • Raise awareness of flood prevention and flood control with partners such as: University of Iowa Flood Center, Coastal America, which works with NOAA, USFWS the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies. The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium will be submitting a grant proposal for close to $250,000 from the Institute for Museum & Library Services (IMLS) in a three-year initiative to execute an updated interpretation of the Mississippi River Discovery Center's signage, programs and outreach activities which interpret all things Mississippi River including our: living collections, cultural and natural habitats. This project employs technology, outreach, and community -engagement in an effort to reduce barriers and enable discovery for all audiences by creating digital interpretation and curriculum grounded in equity. Federal grants currently in process from the National Endowment for the Humanities — Infrastructures and Capacity Building grant totaling $500,000. All of the projects associated with these federal dollars are working to improve the quality of STEM learning, building an equitable platform for the organization combined with a restoration of our historic artifacts, and conservation efforts for our living collections, while increasing our capacity to raise significant funds. Institute for Museums and Library Services — Collections Survey and Planning Project totaling $206,286 will work to improve the museum's ability to care for and interpret its historical collections. This project will result in collection plans that will support the mission of the museum; establish best practices for acquisition, deaccession, leans, care and usage of the collection; and serve as a guide to a comprehensive collection that balances physical and fiscal constraints with the mission and vision of the museum. National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), United States Fish & Wildlife Services (USFWS), and the National Park Service (NPS) all support and recognize museums such as our institutions of learning and exploration, and as keepers of our cultural, historical, and scientific heritages. These federal funding programs teach essential skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and effective communication, and are increasingly sought-after by employers. NEH also funds humanities councils in every state and U.S. territory that sponsor family literacy programs, speakers' bureaus, cultural heritage tourism, exhibitions, and live performances. Since 1980, the Dubuque Country Historical Society (DCHS) has received $2.8 million from the NEH, $475,000 from National Park Service, and $2.2 million from the IMLS to help preserve Dubuque, and the Mississippi River's cultural, historical, and scientific heritage through our exhibits, historic preservation initiatives, and educational programming. These funds play a critical role in future funding for the Dubuque County Historical Society dba National River Museum & Aquarium wherein private dollars would not be able to match the leveraging role of government cultural funding. 591 Page REQUESTED ACTION We ask for continued support for federal programs providing competitive grants including National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute for Museum and Library Services National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Fish & Wildlife Services, and other education and research grants that support the mission and goals of the Dubuque County Historical Society dba National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and the National Rivers Hall of Fame's national education and outreach program RiverWorks Discovery. OUT OF SCHOOL TIME (OST) PROGRAMMING The 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) program is the only federal grant program that supports summer and afterschool learning programs. Administered by the U.S. Department of Education, 21st CCLC supports the establishment of local community -based educational programs for children in out -of -school time settings, particularly for low-income areas. Locally agencies such as St Marks Youth Enrichment and in the past the Dubuque Community School District provides(d) safe places where kids can go when they are not in school. These programs focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities as well as environment and project -based learning. These OST programs provide low-income households accessible, affordable, and safe spaces for their children to learn, have fun and grow. REQUESTED ACTION Support 215Y Century Community Learning Center Program to aid young people in low-income areas in safe and engaging out -of -school time activities and programs. e. DREAM CENTER The City Council has prioritized support for the Dream Center. The mission of the Dream Center is to serve as "a Community Outreach Center committed to mobilizing youth and families to build on Dr. King's Dream of transforming communities by embracing, empowering, and unifying those who live there. We strive to inspire vision and purpose through: Impacting Youth, Strengthening Families, and Building Community. https://www.dubuquedreamcenter.com/ The Dubuque Dream Center strategy — to Impact Youth and Strengthen Families — begins with our In Your Life Mentoring model. On the foundation of genuine relationships, In Your Life Mentors are strategically connected around an individualized plan to provide a child with the assets they need to be successful in school and life. Our program is structured to strategically impact students through our Academic Center, Spark Activities, Healthy Meals, character development curriculum and family engagement. The Dream Center's long-term vision includes holistic initiatives to benefit the entire community. Our essential youth impact structure includes Academic Initiatives, Character Development, and College & Career preparation." 601 Page REQUESTED ACTION Support full funding of the federal Full -Service Community Schools Program. f. FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH The City Council has prioritized support for the Fountain of Youth. "The mission of the Fountain of Youth is to change mindsets that contribute to generational poverty. We help people with what is the largest issue at the time they are ready for it. This makes it crucial that we find a way to help and don't push people through a "cookie -cutter" approach. Participants must be able to choose their own goals so they can be invested. This is also important so participants can learn and embrace the process. This is important for participants so they can continue the process even if they are no longer part of our programming. Our program model acknowledges and celebrates important personal achievements no matter the size; these achievements initiate the change that ultimately produces major transformative success stories." https://www.thefountainofyouthprogram.org/ REQUESTED ACTION 1. Support the Second Chance Act Comprehensive Community -Based Adult Reentry program. This program supports nonprofit organizations that provide reentry services and transition services from prison or jail to community. 2. Support the Labor Health and Human Services budget which includes $98 million for the reintegration of former offenders. 3. Support funding for the US Department of Education Literacy Program for Prisoners, Life Skills. g. FOUR MOUNDS FOUNDATION/HEART BUILDING PROGRAM The City Council has prioritized support for the Four Mounds Foundation, HEART Build Dubuque. https://www.fourmounds.org/adultprogramming/ HEART Build Dubuque is growing workforce development and economic vibrancy by replicating the successful HEART Youth model. Expanded programming serves adults with barriers to employment, including unemployed, underemployed, and those currently or formerly incarcerated or living in poverty. Attitudes, ethics, and personal responsibility are emphasized during genuine work experience. While taking coursework through Northeast Iowa Community College, program participants are immersed in authentic, hands-on training while earning an hourly stipend. We individualize program components as necessary and connect each trainee to appropriate community resources to address personal barriers. Participants develop diverse and marketable skillsets, work ethic, and problem -solving skills on all three of our pathways. Skills learned help participants build impactful resumes but more importantly give them the confidence, knowledge, and ability to make informed life and work decisions. Four Mounds served 26 adults in our first year and anticipate serving 30 individuals in 2021. Demographic of those served in 2020: 69% living below poverty guidelines 54% with criminal history 46% minority 611 Page 31% female We work with partners to remove barriers to success for individuals such as childcare, transportation, access to mental health, finding employment with a criminal past, or other connections community resources. Participants learn valuable skills, receive a paycheck, holistic support, education, opportunities for civic engagement, and connections to employers. opportunities. With our dynamic partners, Four Mounds is intervening in the life trajectory of young adults at risk, giving them skills, choices, and guidance through authentic work experience, while they discover their potential and map out successful futures. REQUESTED ACTION Support the U.S. Department of Labor funding of Reentry grants for young adults 18 - 24 who are unemployed/underemployed, living in poverty, those who are or have been involved in the juvenile or adult justice systems and formerly incarcerated adults. The program grants support to participants inclusion and integration into society and employment opportunities, family support and economic and social self-sufficiency. h. MINES OF SPAIN — E.B. INTERPRETIVE CENTER The Mines of Spain State Recreation Area comprises 1,440 acres of forest and prairie along the Mississippi River and is a significant resource for the Driftless Region. The park is a National Historic Landmark and a state preserve with rich historic, archeological, and natural resources. It includes a state nature preserve and adjoins the Upper Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Refuge. This National Historic Landmark preserves rare riverfront habitat and also contains thousands of years of human history dating from the early Mississippian period through the early -twentieth century. The E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center serves as a visitor information center for the Mines of Spain. It opened in 1976 on land acquired with a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant. The Interpretive Center was doubled in size in 2010 to include more accessible space for educational purposes. The Friends of the Mines of Spain obtained private, local, state, and federal funds for the project. Federal funding included LWCF, National Scenic Byway, and Preserve America grants. The 30-acre E.B. Lyons Interpretive Area surrounding the center was nearly tripled with acquisition of 52 adjacent acres in 2013. Land acquisition was funded by state grants, private contributions and a federal LWCF grant. In 2015, interpretive opportunities were expanded on the 82-acre E.B. Lyons Interpretive Area with construction of the state park's first accessible multi -use trail, an outdoor classroom, interpretive kiosks, and additional parking. Development was funded with a federal LWCF grant, state grants and private contributions. REQUESTED ACTION The City supports any funding or programs that would provide additional land acquisition and park development because it will enhance and increase the park's cultural, natural, and recreational opportunities available to area residents and visitors while buffering the park from surrounding development. 621 Page