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City’s federal lobbyist outlines process, warns continuing resolutions could block earmark wins
Summary
John Colton, the city’s federal legislative consultant, told the College Place City Council on Oct. 7 that continuing resolutions in Congress and the Army Corps of Engineers’ project programming process can block or delay earmarks and federal funding even when projects have been authorized.
John Colton, the city’s federal legislative consultant, told the council that two federal constraints pose the biggest near-term risk to College Place’s federal project funding: a potential U.S. government shutdown and the routine vulnerability of earmarks during long continuing resolutions.
Colton said that when Congress passes a full-year continuing resolution instead of the 12 regular appropriations bills, previously requested earmarks and new project funding can be delayed or lost. “The fiscal year ends at the September, and the new one starts Oct. 1. If Congress does not agree to a spending deal ... it shuts down,” Colton told the council.
Key federal items discussed
• Reservoir 4: Colton said Congress authorized $5 million for Reservoir 4 in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Authorization is not the same as appropriation: Congress must ultimately provide the money and the Army Corps of Engineers must program the project through its capability and prioritization process. Colton explained that the city’s next step is to secure the Army Corps’ capability study and maintain congressional support so the authorized funding can be programmed and appropriated.
• Lions Park Community Center and police modernization: Colton said staff will continue to pursue earmarks and other grant sources for Lions Park and for police facility modernization; he identified Representative Baumgartner and Senator Cantwell as supporters who have submitted or been asked to submit requests.
• Timing and advocacy: Colton outlined a calendar showing the city’s grant- and earmark-driven work cycle (planning in August–October, member outreach and district visits in October–December, and portal submissions in February–March followed by subcommittee vetting in the spring). He warned that if a full-year CR repeats, earmarks typically do not survive into appropriations and many local requests go unfunded.
Council members asked about next steps for specific projects and grant-writing capacity. Colton said the city’s grants matrix will be shared with staff and recommended in-house grant capacity or retained grant-writing support because the grant landscape and deadlines are numerous and time-sensitive.
Ending
Colton said the city has one small earmark already identified — $1 million for Reservoir 4 tied to the freshman representative’s request — and reiterated that congressional appropriations dynamics will determine whether that and other requests are realized. He encouraged continued local advocacy and repeated contact with federal delegation offices through the fall and winter.
