Why It Matters
The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) has engaged Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP to represent it on federal lobbying efforts, marking a new advocacy push focused on transportation policy. The organization is prioritizing surface transportation reauthorization, with a particular emphasis on increasing and enhancing Metropolitan Planning funding. NARC is part of a broader coalition that includes the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), the National League of Cities, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors working on the same issue.
By The Numbers
The lobbying registration was filed on August 13, 2026. The team representing NARC includes Mark Ritacco, Leslie Pollner, and Adrianna Williams. Ritacco previously served as a legislative assistant on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and spent over 11 years across seven consecutive Congresses. Pollner has prior congressional experience and holds a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University.
Broader Context
The current surface transportation authorization under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is set to expire on September 30, 2026, creating an urgent timeline for stakeholders to shape reauthorization legislation. The Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-Term Development for America's 250th Act (BUILD America 250 Act, H.R. 8870), introduced in May 2026 and ordered to be reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, is the pending reauthorization vehicle. The bill proposes significant changes to federal rail and transit funding structures, including modifications to discretionary grant programs that support regional planning and infrastructure development.
NARC published its Surface Transportation Reauthorization Priorities in September 2025, identifying increased and enhanced Metropolitan Planning funding as a top priority. Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) receive federal funding to conduct regional transportation planning and coordinate investments across jurisdictions. Under the IIJA, these planning grants are authorized through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail program and other discretionary grant mechanisms. The BUILD America 250 Act would restructure these programs, renaming the Federal-State Partnership program to the National Intercity Rail Partnership and expanding eligibility to include additional rail carriers beyond Amtrak. NARC's lobbying on surface transportation reauthorization uses issue codes spanning Transportation, Roads/Highway, and Urban Development/Municipalities.
Bottom Line
NARC's engagement of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips reflects the organization's commitment to securing federal resources for regional planning efforts. With surface transportation reauthorization expected to be a significant legislative priority in the coming months, NARC's lobbying push positions the organization to influence how federal transportation funding is allocated and distributed to regional planning bodies across the country.
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