NLC leaders lobby for cities on Capitol Hill.

NLC leaders brought cities' messages on legislative priority issues to Capitol Hill during lobbying visits last week in Washington, D.C.

Members of NLC's Finance Committee met with members of their congressional delegations one day after their committee meeting at NLC headquarters.

They met with their senators, representatives or members of their staffs to urge federal support for cities and towns as the Senate resumed debate on climate change legislation and as Congress considers appropriations options and measures to stabilize the housing market.

NLC First Vice President Kathleen Novak, mayor of Northglenn, Colo., met with Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and a staff member for Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.).

Other members of the committee met with several other key senators or representatives or their staffs, including Sens. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.); John Thune (R-S.D.); Jim Webb (D-Va.); Harry Reid (D-Nev.); John Ensign (R-Nev.); Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.); Ben Nelson (D-Neb.); John McCain (R-Ariz.); Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.); Richard Shelby (R-Ala.); and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.). NLC members also met with Reps. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.); Thelma Drake (R-Va.); Bobby Scott (D-Va.); Lee Terry (R-Neb.); Ed Pastore (D-Ariz.); and Jo Bonner (R-Ala.).

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Novak and the other NLC leaders stressed local officials' message to enact housing finance reform, oppose mandatory collective bargaining and fully fund or increase funding for important programs such as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, transportation and law enforcement programs.

Last month, NLC sent a letter to members of the Senate and urged them to oppose mandatory collective bargaining legislation because it violates federalism principles, interferes with state and local laws, and may be unconstitutional.

Earlier this year, NLC sent a letter signed by more than 400 local elected officials to members of the Senate and the House requesting $2 billion in funding for the energy block grant program.

"For years, America's local elected officials have been developing innovative programs to bring energy conservation and environmental protection programs to their communities and the national economy," the letter stated. "Funding this program will enable cities and towns to sustain the progress already being made and to support even broader local action to secure greater energy savings and independence for the nation."