The One Voice® Request for Projects was issued in November 2018 and closed on February 28th.  Twenty-two applications were submitted from the County of San Joaquin, the cities of Stockton, Lathrop, Manteca, Tracy, Lodi, and Ripon, the San Joaquin Rail Commission, the Port of Stockton, the San Joaquin Regional Transit District, Stockton East Water District, and the Ripon Community Athletic Foundation.  2019 Project Summary List SJCOG recognizes the need to develop a set of principles and policy positions to help support SJCOG’s work in linking transportation, housing, and air quality. To be more effective in this mission, staff has developed a Federal Legislative Platform to coincide with the new two-year legislative cycle. This platform highlights the position of SJCOG on pending legislative and regulatory items in the upcoming session. 2019/2020 Federal Legislative Platform

The One Voice® approach is positively recognized and viewed as a means of helping our elected federal representatives to prioritize and shepherd needed projects through the federal budget process. 

Our efforts are positively recognized at the federal level and we have been encouraged to continue our collaborative approach and build upon the relationships and communications established with our federal representatives. 

SJCOG initiated the first San Joaquin One Voice® trip in 2000, seeking Federal funding for projects of broad, community-wide benefit within San Joaquin County.

The goal was to assemble a public-private delegation, select prioritized projects, and then visit Congressional and Federal departmental representatives in Washington, D.C. to pursue funding and grant opportunities. 

When earmarks disappeared back in 2010, it changed the way funding was dispersed. Funding is now discretionary -- usually through the grant process -- and it’s difficult to compete on a
national level for funds.

Building on the broad-based coalition SJCOG assembled, Congressional representatives and their staff have welcomed and encouraged the communications as a means of assisting federal representatives identify, prioritize and shepherd much-needed projects and programs through the federal budgetary process.

In addition to federal dollars, we have also focused on specific policies. Participants have testified at committee hearings on water, educated Congress and the Administration on the housing crisis (leading to federal assistance), and worked with Members on the introduction of legislation.