Good morning, everyone.

The time is now 10, 11 a.m.

on November 3rd, 2026.

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween and your week is off to an excellent start.

We will call this meeting to order.

Madam Clerk, can you please read the roll?

Councilmember Mughea.

Councilmember Alderete Gavito.

Here.

Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez.

Councilmember Spears.

Chair McKee Rodriguez.

Present.

Chair, we have quorum.

Wonderful.

Today is going to be a pretty light agenda.

We have our federal legislative program development.

But we'll start off with approval of the minutes from the September 29th committee meeting.

I'll entertain a motion for approval.

So approved.

We

have a motion and a second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Our first well, I guess I'll kick it over to uh Jeff if you'd like to introduce the next item.

Sure, just uh uh just very basic process.

This is our first uh layout of our draft federal agenda.

Uh just like we did with the state.

We will take your feedback here today.

We'll work with each of your offices directly, and then we'll come back a second time with a revised program reflecting your feedback.

And uh I'm sure Sally's gonna say this, but the today's election day, the new Congress will convene in January.

So this is a program intended to align with the two-year congressional term that starts in 27.

Thank you, Jeff.

Good morning, Mr.

Chairman, committee member Sally Basurto, Director for Government Affairs.

Thank you for the opportunity to make the sharp pivot to the federal and the congressional landscape as we look forward to January of 2027 in just a couple of months.

Uh, Mr.

Chairman and committee members, uh, my presentation today, as already stated, is a combination of multi-month work efforts that have already come into play in order to bring you the uh draft version before you today.

Um the 128th, uh the 120th Congress essentially will incorporate various priority issues um and areas that we are bringing to you today for consideration um review and uh feedback.

Uh I will also go over a few next steps that we will engage in in the next couple of months for each session.

Um, as you know, Congress um in uh city council adopts the federal legislative program that establishes the city's policy direction and priorities.

This is essentially the blueprint for the government affairs team in our federal consultants in Washington, DC that gives us the opportunity to be able to advocate on behalf of the community and the residents of San Antonio.

Um, through the months um that have led us to today, we have received department recommendations for your consideration.

We also have engaged with partner organizations across San Antonio and the region to be able to uh gather their priorities for this program, as long, of course, um that they do not um interject with the priorities of the council and the city.

Uh we are before you today to get your feedback, and there will be various opportunities to be able to gather input uh from you individually as we did for the state legislative program.

We will also have opportunities for the full council to be able to provide their input, city manager's office, and work towards council adoption.

As you can see here, uh these are the six areas that are comprised of the draft program.

It incorporates economic and community development, of course, military city USA, military protection, public safety and homeland security, infrastructure resiliency and transportation, workforce and education, public health and human services.

This program is a two-year legislative package beginning in 2027 through 2028.

We work closely with our congressional offices and staff to be able to engage and capture uh the things that are happening in Washington DC that would be of impact to the San Antonio community.

Um, in addition, our federal consultants um in DC uh provide as real-time updates to be able to capture uh the happenings in DC and provide those recommendations in this program too.

Um, I want to have the opportunity today to recognize the leadership of uh Councilwoman Spears on the National League of Cities Advocacy Committee in particular.

Um she's on Energy Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Um, this particular committee is of great importance to the portfolio of the National League of Cities, and there's so much work uh to do um in this landscape.

And I know Councilwoman, you will be at NLC as well.

So thank you for your leadership there, as well as Councilwoman Mesa Gonzalez, who sits on uh economic and community development.

Again, another really important committee, and I believe if I'm not mistaken, the councilwoman will also be at NLC participating in the advocacy efforts with that NLC committee.

So thanks to both of you for your leadership.