Home / BINATIONAL / CHAMBER BRINGS SAN DIEGO’S STORY TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

CHAMBER BRINGS SAN DIEGO’S STORY TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

Cali-Baja business and community leaders meet with legislators to advocate for regional issues

SAN DIEGO (Sept. 27, 2018) – A group of 140 business and community leaders from San Diego and Baja California are headed to Washington D.C. to advance key issues related to jobs, commerce, and the regional economy. It is the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 12th annual “Mission to Washington D.C.” which brings delegates to the nation’s capital for three days beginning September 30. The delegation will meet with government officials, agency representatives, and policymakers to enhance understanding and advance policy that creates the best environment for businesses and neighborhoods to thrive.

“Being there in Washington and sharing our stories is critical to advancing the policies and projects that grow our economy and help make San Diego a great place to do business,” said Jerry Sanders, Chamber President and CEO. “The industry experience and perspectives our delegation brings raises our region’s profile, and informs legislators of the very real, local implications of what they’re doing in Washington.”

The delegation represents a diverse mix of industries, organizations, and elected officials from both sides of the border including San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastélum.

Delegates will meet with federal legislators and agency representatives that lead policy development in a variety of areas including housing and homelessness, international trade and cross-border commerce, healthcare, defense and veterans, and workforce development. Key priorities for the delegation:

  • A trilateral trade deal and Congressional approval of a new trade agreement
  • Preservation of HUD funding for homeless services and pursuing new options for affordable housing and homelessness services
  • Border infrastructure projects including the Calexico-Mexicali Port of Entry
  • Funding for the Tijuana River Valley sewage issues
  • Leveraging Federal government resources to promote, protect and expand San Diego’s defense industry Delegates will meet with:
  • Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer
  • Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Gerónimo Gutiérrez
  • Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Canadian Embassy
  • U.S. Trade Representative
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Under Secretary at the Department of Education
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of Commerce
  • Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection
  • Assistant Secretary for the Department of Energy
  • Department of Labor
  • Department of Transportation
  • Department of Defense

Additional notable delegates:

  • Sue Saarnio, U.S. Consulate General, Tijuana
  • Ambassador Marcela Celorio, Mexican Consulate General, San Diego
  • California State Assemblymember Todd Gloria
  • Oscar Escobedo, Secretary of Tourism, State of Baja
  • Poway Mayor Steve Vaus
  • San Diego City Council members Barbara Bry and Mark Kersey
  • Tijuana City Council member Maribel Ivette Casillas
  • Imperial Beach City Council member Mark West
  • And representatives from various businesses and organizations, including: Kaiser Permanente, Woodward Logistics, Cox Communications, Qualcomm, San Diego State University, Sempra Energy, Rancho Guejito, Deloitte, Charter Communications, and the Union of Pan Asian Communities.

The San Diego Regional Chamber is the only Chamber to lead annual binational delegation trips to the U.S. and Mexico capital cities.

About the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

The San Diego Regional Chamber is the hub for connections and collaboration among the regional business community and uses that clout to advocate for public policies and candidates that support economic growth and the creation of jobs for all businesses. As the largest local Chamber on the West Coast, representing approximately 2,500 businesses and an estimated 300,000 jobs, the San Diego Regional Chamber is fighting to make San Diego the most business-friendly region in California. For more information, please visit SDChamber.org or call 619-544-1300.

Check Also

IRS Navigates Monumental Filing Season Challenge with Precision and Success

-Editorial The tax filing season is in full swing. Direct File, is a new tax …

Leave a Reply

es_MX
en_US