Making sure local concerns have a “voice on the hill” is just part of the agenda this week as representatives from the City of Troy attend the 2011 National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C.

Troy City Council members Jason Reeves, Charles Meeks, Charles “Sarge” Dunn and Wanda Moultry are in the nation’s capital for the conference.

“It’s going well,” Moultry said Monday afternoon “We met today in general session and talked about how the mood is when it comes to funding and are supposed to meet with (U.S. Rep.) Martha Roby (R-Ala) for dinner tonight,” Moultry said.

Reeves said it is important for the local council members to visit with Roby, who is a freshman Congressman representing Troy. “It’s important to have this opportunity to talk to our national representatives,” he said. “And it’s never been more important than right now to let them know how we feel about things.”

The National League of Cities is lobbying congressional leaders to maintain funding levels to cities, particularly in such programs as the Community Development Block Grants, which provide funding for programs as varied as economic development and infrastructure.

“Money is just tight all around,” Reeves said. “They are talking about cutting the CDBG funding by 60 percent.”

In addition to visiting with the congressional delegation, the group from Troy will participate in sessions feature Erskine Bowles, co-chair of the National Commission of Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and chief of staff to President Clinton; Ron Sims, Deputy Secretary U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States.