b'AdvocaCy HighlightsRCAC submitted nearly 25 comment and support letters for federal funding, including COVID-19 relief, Paycheck Protection Program, CDFI, housing, housing counseling, infrastruc-AdvocaCy ture and other RCAC program priorities.California Advocacy RCAC and Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) co-spon-sored SB 974, which exempts certain small water system improvement projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). RCAC continued its advocacy work in 2020 as a consis- The new measure will significantly reduce the tent voice for rural and Indigenous communities at bothcosts and delays that some small water sys-state and national legislatures. In 2020, RCAC was instru- tems experience due to the CEQA process for mental in the creation of the California CDFI Coalitionprojects in which poor water quality threatens (CCCI) to advocate at the national and state level forthe health and welfare of a low-incomeCommunity Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs),community. Governor Newsom signed the bill other mission-driven lenders and credit unions, and theinto law in late September.communities they serve. CDFIs have proven successful inRCAC also submitted more than 15 support addressing our communities needs during both naturaland comment letters related to California leg-and national disasters. During the Great Recession, whenislation on housing, CDFI funding and infra-mainstream finance retracted lending, CDFIs kept capitalstructure, including COVID-19 related bills.flowing to businesses and communities. And during the COVID-19 crisis, CDFIs jumped into action by deferringRCAC is a Partners for Rural Transformation loan payments, counseling small business owners in mul- steering committee member, one of six CDFIs tiple languages, advising government officials and more.that serve three-quarters of the countrys RCAC also provided staff support for the newly createdpersistent poverty counties.National Rural Network, a collection of rural-focusedRCAC participated in the RCAP fly-in, sent 13 organizations at the national level, to advocate for ruralpeople to DC and participated in 60 meetings development policies that will benefit rural communities. with Congressional offices.RCAC Annual Report | 13'