WEBINAR
POWER OF THE PURSE: FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS & THE CALIFORNIA DESERT
Thursday, February 25, 2021
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Register to attend: info@desertcoalition.org
Join the California Desert Coalition (CDC) via Zoom on Thursday, February 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.to learn how federal funds impact land management, enforcement and conservation in the California Desert, and how to engage meaningfully in the process.
Public lands in the California Desert and beyond face a backlog of maintenance, resource management plans, and lack of enforcement. But planning, management, maintenance, and enforcement require staff and money – both of which have been eviscerated over the years.
It’s not enough to designate lands. It’s crucial to designate funds as well; funds that only Congress can provide. Learn what this means and how you can get involved.
Our experts, with combined years of federal and nonprofit experience, will
- Teach you about the federal budget and appropriations
- Explain the importance of appropriations on local issues like land management, enforcement and conservation
- And describe how to effectively encourage Congress to fund programs that affect the California Desert
You will also have a chance to develop your request to Congress, practicing the principles you’ve learned during the webinar, in short breakout rooms guided by our speakers.
Speakers:
India McKinney, Director of Federal Affairs, Electronic Frontier Foundation. Former Legislative Assistant and Legislative Director in the U.S. House of Representatives
India spent over 10 years on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer to three members of Congress from California prior to joining the Electronic Frontier Foundation as Director of Federal Affairs. In her current role she focuses on consumer privacy and robust surveillance oversight. Previously, she worked on health care policy, campaign finance and election reform, telecom, technology, budget, and labor issues. India’s work in Congress primarily focused on the appropriations process, specifically analyzing and funding programs in the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and Justice. As a Legislative Assistant, India handled Appropriations Committee work on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee. One of her most sizable legislative accomplishments was authorizing, funding, and naming an $80 million outpatient VA/DoD clinic in Marina, California, serving over 80,000 people. Later, as a Legislative Director, India managed Education and the Workforce Committee work. During her tenure in Washington, D.C. she oversaw the introduction and passage of multiple bills and amendments, and engaged myriad trade associations, lobbyists, CEOs, and other elected officials at the local and national levels in the course of her Appropriations and other policy work. India has a passion for good public policy, and is seasoned in legislative battles.
David Feinman, Government Affairs Director, Conservation Lands Foundation
David’s work with Congress spans 15 years. He joined Conservation Lands Foundation as Government Affairs Director in 2017, where he focuses on building congressional and grassroots support for the National Conservation Lands, America’s newest collection of protected public lands and rivers managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Previously, David served as the first Washington Representative for both the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany and World Jewish Restitution Organization, working with Congress, the administration and foreign governments on behalf of Holocaust victims in 47 countries. He has also served as Senior Legislative Associate and Project Director for The Jewish Federations of North America, and as Legislative Aide for former Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida and former Congresswoman Shelley Berkley of Nevada. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Florida, and a Master of Arts degree in Political Analysis and Public Policy from the University of Central Florida.
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