As former Speaker of the House Thomas P. O'Neill once said, "all politics is local." The challenge for Members of Congress is to ensure that the interests and views of their constituents are represented or accommodated within the sweeping policy decisions made in Washington by the various entities of the federal government.

This straightforward task is complicated by the fact that public policy decisions may affect some Members' constituents in one manner and those of their colleagues in a completely different way. Further compounding this is the cross section of federal agencies who deem it their responsibility to interpret and apply any particular aspect of public law and policy.

As part of its public sector practice area, HYJEK & FIX, INC. has been successful in reaching beneficial and creative solutions to client concerns across a broad range of public policy issues. The firm, for example, has secured modifications in the legislation governing the allocation of federal funds for law enforcement. This was undertaken on behalf of a client who had found anomolies in the law which penalized city and county governments — which have unique public safety requirements. HYJEK & FIX, INC. has also been successful in securing federal funds for a number of surface transportation (highway, port and mass transit) and aviation projects for communities. On the economic development front, HYJEK & FIX, INC.'s activities have ranged from aiding communities in redeveloping federal facilities which have closed or down-sized to securing legislative authority and funding for projects which have brought new, high technology firms into their jurisdictions.

Public sector issues are, therefore, a blend of fiscal and policy components that are balanced against local and national priorities. The funding of highways and transportation infrastructure modernization is a good example of how state and local funds are combined with federal assistance to achieve the public good. This results in a dynamic that places the highest priority on an ability to meld the often divergent views of local and federal government agencies in order to establish and execute public policies in an increasingly constrained budget environment.

The federal government's regulatory, legislative, and policy decisions can also limit a state or local community's freedom to act or, conversely, can mandate it act in a certain way, with both results having a financial impact. On many occasions, in fact, the government's decisions will impose an unintended financial liability on communities far removed from the original intent and scope of the decision. In these situations, relief can be sought from the federal departments and agencies or through the intervention of the Congress.

Some brief examples of the areas in which HYJEK & FIX, INC. has the expertise and a record of success in working with communities and their various components to secure public policy objectives include:

Public Safety: The firm has worked extensively on federal funding and support for community policing programs such as COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) and on funding issues associated with the Part I crime funding allocation formulas. Working with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the company helped create community programs which demonstrably reduced recidivism among juvenile offenders and sought to provide alternatives during times of the day when they are "at risk" for juvenile crime and teen pregnancy. HYJEK & FIX, INC. has also been involved with industry and the federal government on "first responder" policies and protocols to deal with mitigating public health risks associated with the potential use of weapons of mass destruction.

Education: The company was instrumental in obtaining legislation which has facilitated grants to municipal clients for distance learning center networks, which have the dual benefits of education for students and vocational training for local economic development purposes. HYJEK & FIX, INC. has been actively engaged in securing federal funds for school construction and renovation, which is matched by state funding on a methodology comparable to that employed for civil works projects.

Infrastructure Modernization: HYJEK & FIX, INC. has on numerous occasions secured approval of legislative report language highlighting Congressional intent that client infrastructure projects be recipients of federal grants, as well as securing directed funding in the appropriations bills which govern transportation and civil works projects. Funding has been obtained for client initiatives that encompass aviation and surface transportation requirements and port modernization, as well as civil works items including flood control and greenway projects.

Economic Development: One of the pre-eminent economic development projects in which the firm was a supporting element was the Memphis 2005 Initiative, a collective effort of the City of Memphis, Shelby County, and the Memphis Chamber of Commerce. HYJEK & FIX, INC. helped obtain directed federal funding for a job-training effort aimed at restructuring the local economy from its current distribution-based state to one with an emphasis on high technology employment.

Facility Construction: HYJEK & FIX, INC. has secured construction funding for new or modernized federal facilities in several communities, as well as the addition of new functional areas and responsibilities to these facilities; both approaches resulted in the creation of many new jobs.

HYJEK & FIX, INC. looks forward to discussing with you the public sector policy and funding goals of your organization or governmental entity.