WASHINGTON, DC – A historic delegation consisting of Mayor Karen Bass and members of the Los Angeles City Council visited Washington, DC this week to continue efforts to deliver for the people of Los Angeles through unprecedented partnership with the federal government.
The delegation included Council President Paul Krekorian, Assistant President Pro Tem Bob Blumenfield, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, Councilmember Traci Park, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez and Councilmember Heather Hutt.
EDs: Photos and b-roll available here.
During the visit, the U.S. Department of Energy announced the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) would be receiving $48 million in federal dollars to enhance LADWP’s grid flexibility, improve the resilience of the power system against growing threats of extreme weather and climate change, and ensure Los Angeles has access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity throughout all areas of the City.
Delegation meetings included:
Meeting with Secretary Marcia Fudge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
The delegation met with Secretary Marcia Fudge to ease certification requirements for rental assistance, increase funding for housing vouchers and provide financial support to bring more affordable housing units online. The delegation also thanked the Secretary for her leadership and support as Los Angeles implements new strategies to confront the homelessness crisis. In August, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a critical agreement to help the City of Los Angeles bring more Angelenos inside faster by waiving proof of income and other past requirements to enter housing. The delegation also requested the reallocation of unused emergency housing vouchers across the country to Los Angeles to house more Angelenos.
Meeting with Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
The delegation met with Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who grew up in Los Angeles, to request that Los Angeles become eligible for federal funding to address the arrival of migrants on buses sent from Texas, and for expedited FEMA reimbursements for COVID-related expenses. The delegation also discussed ways to collaborate with the Department on continued efforts to combat opioid and fentanyl overdoses and the Secretary provided an update on how the Department is responding to and working to prevent targeted violence in the United States in wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Meeting with Secretary Denis McDonough, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The delegation met with Secretary McDonough to discuss expanding access to Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, continuing support for building interim and permanent supportive housing on VA facilities in L.A., and continuing work with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure that veterans’ federal disability stipends do not preclude them from accessing housing. The Secretary committed to continue close engagement with Los Angeles. The delegation also explored ways to ensure that veterans benefits don’t disqualify them from housing opportunities and talked about ways to support Angelenos who are unhoused with an other-than-honorable discharge.
Meeting with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Policy Christopher Coes
The delegation met with Secretary Buttigieg and Assistant Secretary Coes to discuss funding for infrastructure improvements ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, ensure that the Port of Los Angeles is appropriately funded to reach the goals of becoming a zero-emission and supply chain resilient port, and support LAX’s continued modernization efforts. The Department agreed to continued partnership to improve safety, efficiency and reliability of our transportation system.
Meeting with U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Infrastructure David Crane
While in Washington, DC, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power $48 million in federal dollars to enhance LADWP’s grid flexibility, improve the resilience of the power system against growing threats of extreme weather and climate change, and ensure Los Angeles has access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity throughout all areas of the City. The delegation met to discuss the new funding and furthering collaboration to protect the environment.
Meeting with Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States Lilit Makunts
The delegation conveyed the strong support of Los Angeles for the people of Armenia and expressed concerns about the conditions of refugees from Artsakh in the aftermath of Azerbaijani aggression. Council President Paul Krekorian arranged the meeting for the delegation.
Meeting with Tom Perez and Neera Tanden, White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and White House Director of the Domestic Policy Council
The delegation met with Tom Perez and Neera Tanden to request assistance to tackle additional barriers to housing and further advocate for continued federal support to confront the housing and homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. The delegation thanked the White House for their support with the All INside initiative, a first-of-its-kind initiative to address unsheltered homelessness all across the country. The City of Los Angeles is partnering with the USICH and its 19 federal member agencies to strengthen and accelerate our local efforts to move unhoused Angelenos off the streets and into homes.
Meeting with Gregory Jackson and Robert Wilcox, Special Assistants to the President and Deputy Directors for the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
The delegation highlighted the work L.A. is doing to prevent gun violence and requested funding for gun violence prevention programs to create a safer Los Angeles for all. The representatives of the office committed to continuing collaboration with Los Angeles to combat gun violence.
Meeting with Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget
The delegation met with Shalanda Young to advocate for top-priority funding needs in Los Angeles. The discussion was wide-ranging. Mayor Bass worked with Director Young when the Mayor served in the United States House of Representatives.
Meeting with Caitlin Durkovich, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Homeland Security Advisor for Resilience & Response, National Security Council
The delegation discussed preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, including a request for federal funding to address transportation and security needs, as well as a push for broader security at LAX and the Port of Los Angeles.
Meeting with U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries
The delegation met with the House Democratic Leader minutes before a historic Speaker vote this week. The delegation talked about ways to collaborate with Members of Congress and funding for Los Angeles’s migrant bus response as a part of border security legislation.
Meeting with Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee
Congresswoman Waters has long been a leader on federal housing legislation in Congress. Congresswoman Maxine Waters introduced three major bills to confront the housing and homelessness crisis: The Housing Crisis Response Act, the Ending Homelessness Act, and the Downpayment Toward Equity Act. Councilmembers Heather Hutt and Marqueece Harris-Dawson led the Los Angeles City Council in passing a resolution putting the City of Los Angeles in support of the Congresswoman's package. Mayor Bass also worked with Assemblymember Tina McKinnor to introduce a resolution in the State Legislature in support of the bills. The delegation discussed ways to continue collaboration on this important issue.
The delegation spent time speaking with the following Members of Congress:
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders
U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries
U.S. House Democratic Caucus Chair Congressman Pete Aguilar
U.S. House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Congressman Ted Lieu
Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Financial Services
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Chair, California Democratic Congressional Delegation
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
Congresswoman Doris Matsui
Congressman Adam Schiff
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer
Congressman John Garamendi
Congressman Brad Sherman
Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D.
Congressman Tony Cardenas
Congresswoman Julia Brownley
Congressman Jimmy Gomez
Congressman Robert Garcia
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez