Legislative Services
Working Together for Regional Water Reliability
Every year in Sacramento and Washington D.C., thousands of legislative bills are introduced that have the potential to affect Metropolitan operations, projects and initiatives. Our legislative team assesses those bills and their potential impact on the millions of Californians who rely on Metropolitan water supplies. They then represent and promote Metropolitan's legislative priorities in our state and national capitols, as well as among local leaders in Southern California.
We maintain strong relationships and connect with more than 100 legislative and congressional offices, dozens of local policymakers and more than 100 civic and business groups. Working in partnership with our member agencies, community organizations and many regional alliances, we inform decision makers and local leaders about the importance of our regional water supply, reliability and quality. We also brief elected officials on pending legislation, help organize public educational events and speak to many local groups and organizations on current water issues.
Defining our Regional Legislative Priorities
Our board of directors annually adopts state and federal legislative priorities and legislative principles to support the Metropolitan's mission and guide our advocacy work in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
Collaborating for Effective Advocacy
Our staff screens and flags hundreds of state and federal legislative bills with a team of experts analyzing each bill for potential impacts to Metropolitan and our regional water supply. Once these bills are vetted our state and federal legislative representatives — based on the ground in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. — engage elected officials to protect and advance our collective regional interests. We submit letters to the Legislature and Congress advocating for our policy positions, and our legislative representatives testify in public hearings on our behalf. We often collaborate with other water agencies, industry groups and environmental organizations to advance our shared positions.
Connecting with Local
Community Leaders
Our Community Leader Briefing program brings together local community leaders to discuss current water policy and legislative issues impacting our communities. These collaborative events are a highlight for many of our member agencies as we bring diverse community members together to engage in educational discussions on important water issues in our region.
Additional Resources
Note: The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has no responsibility for the availability, opinions, products or services that are offered or displayed on external websites.
Kathryn Viatella
Executive Legislative Representative
(916) 650-2614
Veronica Hackett-Cole
Senior Administrative Analyst
(916) 650-2609
Abby Schneider
Executive Legislative Representative
(202) 393-4251
Kristen Haskett
Senior Administrative Analyst
(202) 393-4251