Basics Act: Consider Requesting Your Representative Become a Co-Author 

CSAC is continuing efforts to ensure county needs are addressed in the next federal Surface Transportation funding bill. CSAC will be submitting a request to the California delegation asking them to consider becoming a co-author of the Bridges and Safety Infrastructure for Community Success (BASICS) Act, HR 7437. This bill, which was drafted with strong input from NACo, would achieve many of the key goals that CSAC is supportive of as Congress works on the reauthorization for a federal surface transportation funding bill. CSAC is requesting counties to consider sending a co-author request to their congressional representatives and emphasize the positive impact the BASICS Act would have for your county. A template co-author request letter is available here. 

For background, the BASICS would grow the share of federal formula funding that is “suballocated,” or made available to counties, by growing the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program, as well as adding suballocation requirements to formula bridge funding and formula safety funding programs. The bill also includes language that would make important process reforms to ensure dollars meant for locals actually go to local governments, like expanding project selection authority for planning organizations, funding rural/regional planning organizations and requiring better state-local coordination.