San Antonio's representation on the national stage has been secured with the appointment of District 9's own Councilwoman Misty Spears to the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (EENR) Federal Advocacy Committee. According to an announcement made by the NLC President Kevin Kramer, who also serves as Councilmember in Louisville, Kentucky, Spears will spend a year contributing to the strategic direction and advising on policy priorities critical to her community and the nation at large.
Spears, in a statement obtained by the City of San Antonio, expressed that "San Antonio is growing rapidly, and that growth brings real challenges around water security and energy reliability." Serving on the NLC's EENR Committee is a clear opportunity for San Antonio to draw federal eyes towards the local infrastructural concerns needing national acknowledgment and aid, a reflection of national policy decisions that directly affect the livelihood of its constituents.
The role of NLC’s EENR Committee is to shape policy positions and represent America's cities, towns, and villages in discussions with Congress and the administration. The NLC President highlighted the importance of this communication, saying, "The National League of Cities’ federal advocacy committees are the voice of America’s 19,000 cities, towns and villages to leaders in Washington." And at the announcement, he displayed confidence that Councilwoman Spears would be an active and effective member of this national conversation.
Additional leadership within the 2026 EENR Committee will include Chair Jan Kulmann, Mayor of Thornton, Colorado; Vice Chair Abbie Kamin, Councilmember from Houston, Texas; and Vice Chair Elise Partin, Mayor of Cayce, South Carolina. This team will work collaboratively to ensure that diverse city perspectives, including those of San Antonio, are included in federal legislative decisions from water infrastructure to environmental policies, to ensure federal policies are influenced by local realities and needs, as per the City of San Antonio.
