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McGuireWoods tells Roanoke officials to press congressional delegates for earmarks and relationships after redistricting
Summary
Federal affairs consultants from McGuireWoods briefed Roanoke’s Legislative Committee on May 4, urging local officials to advocate for four congressionally directed spending submissions and to consider a summer fly‑in as Virginia’s new 6th Congressional District could increase Roanoke’s federal influence.
McGuireWoods consultants told Roanoke leaders on May 4 that the city should press its newly configured congressional delegation and staff to advance local earmark requests and strengthen relationships amid redistricting and an uncertain appropriations cycle.
"We have a really, I think, thrilling afternoon and morning plan where we'll get to see some of these sites that we're working on..." said Clint Cox (McGuireWoods) as he opened the consultants’ briefing. Senior vice president Scott Binkley described the opaque phase of the congressionally directed spending (CDS) process, advising staff to continue socializing submissions at the member‑office level as Appropriations staff narrows requests.
Binkley listed four local CDS submissions the team has been promoting: River Kayak Park, the Amtrak station, Mill Mountain Greenway Phase 1 and an airport runway‑extension study. He recommended a delegation trip to Washington, D.C., in the summer so city leaders can advocate directly for those projects and provide in‑person site context to members and appropriations staff.
Consultants also flagged broader legislative dynamics: a short‑term DHS spending patch, a narrow reconciliation effort focused on border and ICE funding, and the political compression that often limits earmark inclusion in election years. They said Virginia’s April 21 redistricting vote — now subject to review — changes the contours of the 6th Congressional District in ways that could enhance Roanoke’s leverage if the city is in a more competitive, college‑corridor district.
City leaders thanked the consultants and asked for the CDS submission list and price tags to be circulated to council and the public. The consultants said they would follow up and requested council help in arranging meetings with senators and members of Congress this summer.
No formal federal requests were voted on at the meeting; the briefing served to inform council strategy ahead of appropriations and CDS committee work in D.C.
