Agenda. 5. Introduction of APTA s Andrew Brady Rob Healy. 7. The Role of Public Transportation in the Conservative Pro-Growth Agenda

Transcription

1 American Public Transportation Association Business Member Legislative Committee/Business Member Procurement Committee Joint Meeting Sunday, September 11, am Diamond Ballroom 4, J.W. Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE Los Angeles, CA Agenda 1. Introductions Natalie Cornell and Freddie Fuller 2. APTA Anti-trust statement: The cardinal rule in keeping an association s operations within anti-trust laws is that there should be no agreements express or implied which restrain the member s freedom to make independent decisions in matters that affect competition. Each member must be completely independent to set prices, establish production and sales levels, choose the markets in which he or she will operate and select his or her customers and suppliers. 3. Approval of Meeting Notes from June Conference Call Attachment 1 4. Legislative Committee Task Force on Member Consensus Rob Healy 5. Introduction of APTA s Andrew Brady Rob Healy 6. Update on APTA Activities at RNC/DNC Nominating Conventions 7. The Role of Public Transportation in the Conservative Pro-Growth Agenda 8. Update on FY 2017 Transportation Appropriations Art Guzzetti Art Guzzetti Rob Healy 9. NPRM on FAST Act Buy America provisions Jim LaRusch & Rob Healy 10. Update on FTA Guidance on GSA-type schedule Jim Harper 11. VOLT Bill Rob Healy Attachment Update on A&E Terms and Conditions Review Bob Brownstein & Bill Thomsen

2 13. Update on Business Member Activity Fund Research Initiatives Darnell Grisby 14. Voices for Public Transit Morgan Lyons 15. Update on Procurement Steering Committee Research Initiatives Natalie Cornell 16. Other Business 17. Adjourn 2017 Business Member Board of Governors Meetings: -BMBG Annual Business Meeting, January, 25-27, Clearwater, FL -Legislative Conference, Sunday, March 12, Washington, DC -Bus & Paratransit Conference, Sunday, May 7, Reno, NV -APTA Annual Conference & EXPO, Sunday, October 8, Atlanta, GA All Business members are invited to attend and participate in BMBG meetings

3 Joint Business Member Legislative Procurement Committee Meeting June 3, 2016 MEETING Notes The meeting was called to order by Freddie Fuller, chair of the Business Member Legislative Committee. Natalie Cornell, chair of the Business Member Procurement Committee noted that currently there are a number of issues which are of interest to both committees which is why they are meeting together again. Thirty people dialed in for the conference call meeting including Natalie Cornell, Freddie Fuller, Joe Gibson, Jim Harper, Tony Kellen, John Andrews, Joe Policarpio, Jack Martinson, Kevin Adams, Gary Trenga, Jeff Wharton, Alan Wulkan, Buddy Coleman, Bob Brownstein, Mike Townes, Kevin Sudano, Paul Dean, Dick Wieczorik, Wright Parkes, Cliff Henke, Janette Hunter, Rob Healy, Art Guzzetti and Fran Hooper. The Anti Trust Statement was read and the meeting notes from the March meeting were approved. It was noted that the sign in sheet for the March meeting was misplaced. Rob Healy gave a brief update on the Task Force on Member Consensus. He explained that the task force had been created by Chairman Valarie J. McCall, at the request of Jeff Hamm, who chaired the Bus Coalition. It is intended to work on ways to ensure that the industry reaches consensus on legislative policy issues where APTA members may have different views. He noted that the task force had initially met at the Legislative Conference in March, and that Chairman Barry Barker, at the urging of the group, had modified a schedule that was intended to include meetings in conjunction with major APTA meetings to one where the group would meet for longer meetings to really deal with the objectives. The task force, which includes Business Members Pat Scully, Sharon Greene, Kim Green, Jeff Boothe, Diana Mendez and Mike Townes, is scheduled to meet in Washington, DC, on June 8 for a full day meeting. Alan Wulkan asked Rob to convey to the chair that consensus needed to involve all of APTA s member organizations, and not just the legacy properties and Jeff Wharton noted that it needed to be balanced. Art Guzzetti told meeting attendees that APTA would have receptions at both the Republican and Democratic National Nominating conventions. He provided details about the receptions, and explained that we had recently invited Members of Congress, congressional staff, and APTA Members. Art also reported that there would be an event on June 9 at the Capitol Visitors Center with the Free Congress Foundation to release a new report regarding the role of public transit in a slow growth economy. The report was funded by the Business Member Activity Fund. Healy updated the committee on the status of FY 2017 transportation appropriations bills in both Houses of Congress. He said that the Senate had completed action on its version of the bill, while the House had moved its bill through committee and would likely take the measure to the House Floor during June. He stated that both bills actually appropriated more than the authorization levels for transit programs, and that funding for new rail programs was provided, but at levels well below those authorized. Finally, he noted that Senate Appropriations staff, who had participated in a recent meeting of Washington lobbyists at APTA s offices, had questions about whether Congress would complete the

4 process before the end of the current fiscal year or whether Congress would pass a continuing resolution before adjourning for the elections and complete appropriations bills in a lame duck session of Congress. There was a long discussion on Buy America, and the FTA s proposed regulations that would require application of the statutory content requirements upon delivery. Various people elaborated on why this was a bad proposal, and Healy explained that there was little sympathy among Democrats on Capitol Hill. He noted that several lobbyists for Volvo and Bombardier had met with Senator Schumer s staff recently. Jim Harper reported that FTA s guidance on the GSA type schedule has been written but is awaiting approval. The joint committees then discussed the details of the VOLT Act, a recently introduced legislative proposal that would allow grant recipients to mandate veterans hiring preference, with certain conditions. Healy said that he intended to have the full legislative committee review the bill at its upcoming meeting as well. Some concerns were expressed including the fact that this would be more restrictive than current DOT requirements, but the committee made no specific recommendation on the measure. Members were asked to send comments to Rob, Fran and the committee chairs. Bob Brownstein reported that he would be working on the list of A&E contract concerns. A survey will be developed for the consultant community to highlight the major issues, which will be compiled and discussed with the committee to determine strategies that could address the issues. He indicated that his target was to finalize the list of issues in the next two months so that the discussion on strategies can take place at the meeting in September. He asked for volunteers to get in touch with him. Natalie summarized the list of research projects that the Business Member Activity Fund was supporting this year, which includes a synthesis report on International Business Models, reports on PPP Restrictions, and the Private Sector Benefits on Guaranteed Funding. An additional report on the Impact of Supply Side Jobs on Local Economies was redefined to focus on Transit Supply Chain (Buy America and local hire). The final agenda item was research that the Procurement Steering Committee was working on. It is a proposal that will be submitted to TCRP to consider why companies bid or do not bid on work and how incentives for creating jobs, training, local or veterans hiring affect the decision. In the subsequent discussion members noted that you can present the facts but it will have little impact because legislators need to support actions that will create American jobs, that we need to think about which fights we can win, and asked whether this study is just for OEMs and component manufactures or would it include contract operators. Natalie said that these comments would be considered in developing the proposal. The meeting was adjourned.

5 I 114TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R To amend title 49, United States Code, to assist veterans to obtain certain public transportation jobs, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 26, 2016 Mr. ASHFORD (for himself and Mr. JONES) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend title 49, United States Code, to assist veterans to obtain certain public transportation jobs, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the Veteran Opportunities on Local Transportation Act of 2016 or the VOLT Act of SEC. 2. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION JOBS FOR LOCAL VET- SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS ERANS. Section 5325 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: VerDate Sep :25 Jun 01, 2016 Jkt PO Frm Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5355.IH H5355

6 (l) VETERANS LOCAL HIRING. A recipient of assistance under this chapter may advertise and award a contract for construction that includes requirements for the employment of veterans residing in or adjacent to any of the areas in which work is to be performed under the contract if (1) the estimated cost of the project to which the contract relates exceeds $10,000,000; (2) there is no requirement to hire an individual who does not have the necessary skills to perform work in a relevant craft or trade, unless the individual is subject to an apprenticeship program or other training program; and (3) the requirements do not (A) compromise the quality of the project to which the contract relates; (B) unreasonably delay the completion of the project; or (C) unreasonably increase the cost of the project.. Æ SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS HR 5355 IH VerDate Sep :25 Jun 01, 2016 Jkt PO Frm Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H5355.IH H5355