Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. - Two Weeks from Today

by Gary Toebben

Two weeks from today, more than 150 business and civic leaders from Los Angeles County will be in Washington, D.C. to advocate for our region. We’ll be joined by City of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, members of the L.A. City Council, LAUSD Superintendent Michelle King and Board President Steve Zimmer, and elected officials from Glendale, South Bay and West Hollywood. On the agenda will be legislation to improve our economy, transportation, energy, housing, health care, technology, education and workforce development.

Some of the advocacy issues have been on the agenda before - the need for comprehensive immigration reform, enacting trade agreements, diversifying our energy supply, increasing federal assistance on homelessness and housing. The good news in that four items that we championed last year were approved by Congress in 2015 and signed by the President. Those legislative successes included FAST, a five year surface transportation bill, ESSA, reauthorization of the nation’s elementary and secondary education act, Trade Promotion Authority for the President and the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. Part of our focus this year will be on implementing those bills in a way that benefits our region and state.

A new addition to this year’s agenda will be the urging of Congress to support L.A.'s bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics by stressing public support, the financial sustainability of the bid and the availability of existing venues. We will also host a reception to introduce new LAUSD Superintendent Michelle King to members of Congress.

With 2016 being a presidential election year and the California Primary set for June 7, we are excited to have MSNBC’s Chris Matthews keynote one of our breakfasts. His observations will come just days before five states hold their primaries, including the pivotal state of Pennsylvania.

Registration for this ACCESS Washington, D.C. trip closes this Friday, April 15. I encourage you to sign up to join the L.A. Area Chamber, VICA, CCA, Bizfed, LABC, the Hollywood Chamber, LAUSD, Metro, the Metropolitan Water District, and the United Way, as we meet with Congress and the Administration on issues that are vital to your business and our region. This trip matters and your voice is important. See you at the Capitol on April 26-28.

And that's The Business Perspective.