One VoiceSan Joaquin One Voice® is SJCOG’s legislative program for San Joaquin County promoting issues of regional significance to federal legislators and agencies typically through an annual trip to Washington, D.C. The purpose of the program is to advocate for increased funding and/or new or amended legislation for issues and projects of regional significance to the San Joaquin region.

With the expectation COVID-19 will limit in-person meetings, staff will be proposing two virtual meeting days, one in April, the other in June (dates still to be determined). Staff proposes to have only a few highly relevant meetings on each of the two separate days.

Assuming circumstances have improved to the extent our One Voice® delegation is willing to travel and, just as importantly, that people in DC will be willing to meet with us in person, staff is planning a trip in late summer or early fall.

SJCOG is starting the solicitation for project requests for the 2021 San Joaquin One Voice® program due no later than March 15. SJCOG is accepting project nominations starting now. SJCOG will use the same nomination forms from previous years. Forms are available for download in the links below:

Also this month, SJCOG is recommending the adoption of the legislative themes. These themes are: Environmental Sustainability, Trade Corridors, Innovation and Technology, Growth Management, Social Equity and Mobility Federal Funding Support and MPO Reform, and Emergency Response and Recovery: COVID-19 and Beyond. Once the themes are approved by the board on February 28, 2021, SJCOG can begin sorting the project nominations in the thematic categories for approval by SJCOG Board at its March 25th meeting.

We hope that everyone is staying safe and well during this time. We appreciate your understanding as these events unfold.

  1. One Voice Approach
  2. Successes
  3. 2020 Regional  Projects
The One Voice® approach is positively recognized and viewed as a means of helping our elected federal representatives to prioritize and shepherd needed projects and programs crucial to improving infrastructure and transportation choices in San Joaquin County through the federal budget process. For the 2021 One Voice program, staff is recommending that projects be aligned based on thematic concepts:

  • Environmental Sustainability - projects whose core features improve air quality, reduce vehicle miles traveled, and are responsive to climate change/resiliency goals.
  • Trade Corridors - projects which foster goods movement, commerce, or enhance/eliminate barriers to trade.
  • Innovation and Technology - strategies/projects that capture cutting edge technology investments.
  • Growth Management - projects which strengthen connections to housing and have strong, direct connectivity to economic development.
  • Social Equity and Mobility - investments that provide options for disadvantaged communities.
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. 

Although Congress stopped earmarking funds in 2010, the federal government still distributes hundreds of billions of dollars through formula and discretionary programs. The San Joaquin One Voice® group takes this opportunity to receive counsel from legislators, legislative staff and the administration about the various federal programs and teach us how we can successfully compete in the grant process.