Buy American Waivers, worth $1,566,036
On behalf of a coalition of cities, Dana DeBeaumont coordinated an effort to persuade the U.S. Department of Transportation to grant waivers to a handful of California cities, allowing them to purchase vehicles aimed at reducing pollution, for which they were not initially allowed to use federal dollars. These were the first waivers granted in many months. Dana led and coordinated a coalition of Congressmen who sent a joint delegation letter to the Secretary of Transportation, asking for the waivers. She also engaged senior U.S. Department of Transportation officials in this successful effort.
$15 Million TIGER Grant
A major California city did not receive funding when it first applied, but under Dana's leadership, the city was granted $15 million in funding on its second attempt. Working in close collaboration with the city and Congress, she met often with senior U.S. Department of Transportation staff to determine weak points in the application and what specific project elements could be improved to align with Department priorities. For over a year, she engaged Congressional staff to highlight the economic benefits this project would bring to the region, while also playing a critical role in outreach to the Secretary of Transportation and his leadership team. Both California Senators and their senior staffs were engaged in this successful effort.
Environmental Mitigation Language in MAP-21
Working with Democrats and Republicans, Dana DeBeaumont successfully secured language in the Transportation Authorization Bill -- MAP-21 -- to allow for contributions of federal dollars into regional mitigation banks. Dana actively engaged both Senate EPW Chair Barbara Boxer and Ranking Member Jim Inhofe as well as Committee staff to craft language allowing communities to combine funding to create more regional and comprehensive environmental mitigation. The language also included a preference for mitigation when the applicable federal agencies approved it.
$800,000 for a CNG Fueling Station Expansion
Dana secured a near $800,000 appropriation earmark for the expansion of a compressed natural gas fueling facility for a Central Valley city. She worked with Congressional staff to highlight the environmental benefits and improved air quality that the expansion would bring to the region, and followed up with direct communications with elected officials. Equally important, she engaged U.S. Department of Transportation officials in California after the department claimed that the project did not meet Federal Transit Administration criteria. Reversing its decision, DOT allowed the project to move forward.
Working closely with Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency, CAP professionals secured $750,000 in funding for a California city to clean up a brownfields site where a gas station storage tank leaked threatening a municipal drinking water well. Additionally, when it ran into problems getting the funding contract executed, Dana stepped in to coordinate a solution. The funding was essential for the City to progress cleaning efforts.