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federal partnership, cities can continue transportation and infrastructure investments <br />that ensure everyone in our communities has access to education, training and <br />employment. The program must provide cities a greater role in decision - making for <br />transportation projects to meet community goals and recognize the role of metropolitian <br />economices to the nation's economic wellbeing and competitiveness. The overall <br />transportation system must be made more efficient, including upgrades to older systems <br />and the addition of new modes like light rail and bus rapid transit. <br />Protect Municipal Bonds <br />NLC opposes any attempt to eliminate or limit the traditional tax exemption for <br />municipal bonds, whether as part of a deficit reduction plan, a push for comprehensive <br />tax reform or as an offset for new spending. As the Administration and Congress look for <br />revenue to reduce the deficit and still fund programs, the federal income tax exemption <br />provided to interest paid on state and municipal bonds (debt) is under threat. In <br />addition to increasing taxes, the federal government can raise revenue by expanding <br />what is subject to being taxed (broadening the base); as an alternative to raising taxes, <br />interest paid on bonds issued by local government currently not taxed could lose their <br />exemption from taxation. <br />Fix the Nation's Broken Immigration System <br />NLC calls on Congress and the Administration to pass a comprehensive immigration <br />reform bill that will fix the nation's broken immigration system that hurts families, <br />communities and our economy. For far too long, our immigration system has torn apart <br />families, allowed cultural misunderstandings to threaten our communities and held back <br />economic growth by keeping a substantial population from being able to fully participate. <br />Cities need a plan for comprhensive immigration reform that includes a path to <br />citizenship, strong border enforcement and support for cities and towns to integrate <br />immigrants into their communities and allow them to make both cultural and economic <br />contributions to the nation. <br />Strengthen the Nation's Education Pipeline <br />NLC seeks to partner with the Department of Education to strengthen the education <br />pipeline, from early childhood opportunities through improved postsecondary success. <br />That means increasing the visibility, understanding, and appreciation of the role that <br />cities can play in leading educational change by advancing strong early childhood <br />opportunities, citywide high - quality afterschool programs, and strategies to improve <br />postsecondary success rates. NLC needs Congress to reauthorize the Elementary and <br />Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which includes important education programs such as <br />Title I, so that states and localities will have the tools they need to improve their local <br />education systems. A strong federal -local partnership will acknowledge that the best <br />education decisions are made at the local level, and will leverage the expertise of the <br />federal government. <br />4 <br />Amended by City Council on 4/15/2014 <br />