REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 14, 2025
FROM
DAWN ROWE, Third District Supervisor, Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
Establish Federal Affairs Committee
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Establish a Federal Affairs Committee, consisting of First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook (Ret.), who will serve as the Chair, and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe, to provide input on the County’s federal lobbying efforts.
(Presenter: Dawn Rowe, Third District Supervisor, 387-4855)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item is not anticipated to result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). It is anticipated that funding for travel-related expenses will be paid from the County Administrative Office Governmental and Legislative Affairs budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The recommendation would establish a Federal Affairs Committee (Committee) consisting of two members of the Board of Supervisors (Board) to oversee the County’s federal lobbying efforts to ensure the County successfully receives federal funding. The federal funding sources may include, but are not limited to, grant funding, federal partnerships and matching funds, and Member Directed Funding Requests, which are formerly known as earmarks. Committee members, individually or together, will travel to and from Washington D.C., and other areas when appropriate, to meet directly with Members of Congress and federal agencies to secure successful outcomes for county residents. The Committee will also invite Members of Congress to tour key sites in the county as part of funding requests, which may require logistical and administrative support from County staff.
The recommendation would appoint Supervisor Col. Paul Cook (Ret.) as the Committee Chair and appoint Supervisor Dawn Rowe to the Committee. The Committee will act as a liaison with the County executive team to discuss the County’s federal priorities and establish goals for the County’s lobbying team. The Committee will also communicate with County lobbyists directly, and work with County staff to identify funding requests that can be submitted to Members of Congress, especially members of the House Appropriations Committee.
This Committee would be reviewed during the bi-annual review of Boards and Commissions, with the next review of this Committee expected to occur in 2027, unless action is taken by the Board sooner.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 10, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Stephenie Shea, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on January 10, 2025.