Council reviews draft FY27 federal priorities letter; members ask for stronger immigration and education language

County staff presented the Montgomery County FY27 federal priorities letter and an accompanying list of FY27 earmark requests (SEG 323–334). The draft covers housing (modernizing federal housing programs and supporting recent House and Senate housing bills), federal workforce protections (noting the presence of FDA and NIH in the county), immigration (language acknowledging local welcoming policies) and transportation (requests for bus infrastructure and support for discretionary grants including a BUILD grant for the Lake Forest transit project, SEG 344–424).

Council members requested stronger language calling for comprehensive immigration reform (Council President and others, SEG 381–386) and asked staff to expand the education section to note lost federal grants and the need for IDEA and Title I funding support (Council Member Giordo, SEG 572–581). Members also suggested the letter note the council's regional resolution on WMATA and regional coordination on transportation funding (SEG 431–444). Staff said the draft is confidential until updated and that it will be placed on the consent agenda the following week for council consideration (SEG 605–613).

Staff will incorporate council edits about immigration and education, coordinate with departmental subject matter experts, and circulate a revised draft by Wednesday to meet publication deadlines for the consent agenda.