Federal Update: CSAC Leaders Travel to Washington, D.C.

CSAC leaders were in the nation’s capital this week to promote the Association’s federal advocacy priorities. Led by Santa Clara County Supervisor and CSAC President Susan Ellenberg, the Officers – who were joined by Association staff and Paragon Government Relations – met with a number of key members of Congress and Trump administration officials. 

The CSAC team focused its advocacy efforts on several key issues, including the need to mitigate the impacts of H.R. 1, which fundamentally restructures and reduces federal funding for Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/CalFresh). The contingent also focused on ongoing legislative and regulatory efforts to reform FEMA, local priorities within the context of this year’s surface transportation reauthorization, and issues surrounding affordable housing and homelessness. 

On the Senate side of Capitol Hill, CSAC had robust discussions with Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA). Both senators, who have been champions for California’s counties on countless issues, committed to continuing working closely with CSAC on a range of shared priorities. The group also met with key staff to the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee to discuss several matters that fall under the purview of the panel, namely ongoing housing reform efforts in Congress and the need to examine the appropriate federal role in the insurance crisis that is plaguing a number of states, including California. 

Across Capitol Hill, CSAC had productive meetings with key members of the California congressional delegation, which included members from both parties who hail from different regions of the state. Among others, the group met with Representative Pete Aguilar (D-CA), who serves as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus; Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), the longtime Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation; and, Representative Vince Fong (R-CA), a key member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Additionally, the group met with majority and minority staff handling nutrition programs for the House Agriculture Committee to advocate for a delay to the SNAP cuts enacted under H.R. 1. 

As part of their itinerary on Capitol Hill, the CSAC contingent attended the California Democratic Congressional Delegation’s policy luncheon. At the event, CSAC President Ellenburg and CEO Graham Knaus had the opportunity to brief a large group of California delegation members regarding the Association’s federal legislative and regulatory priorities, including specific requests related to H.R. 1 implementation and transportation reauthorization. 

At the Executive level, CSAC had a joint meeting with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and FEMA’s Office of External Affairs. The conversation centered around several key issues, including the need to fix inequities in the federal disaster declaration process, improving the transparency of FEMA’s disaster reimbursement system, and recent reductions in the Agency’s reimbursement rates for equipment used by counties and other local agencies when rendering mutual aid.  

The group also met with the officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including Dan Brillman, the Deputy Administrator and Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is charged with overseeing State and county implementation of the new Medicaid work verification requirements imposed by H.R. 1. The group had a separate meeting with HHS’s Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR), which helps promote the resilience of vulnerable individuals, children, families, and communities impacted by disasters and public health emergencies. 

Rounding out the advocacy trip were discussions with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), including David Matthews, the Director of State Operations for Rural Development, and staff from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, which oversees and administers the SNAP program. Finally, CSAC met with Jonathan Cousimano, who serves as Federal Affairs Director for Governor Gavin Newsom.