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-Editorial
A group of more than 170 business and civic leaders—the largest to date—from the San Diego region is headed to Washington, D.C. to advance issues critical to business growth, the creation of jobs, and the economy. It is the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 15th annual “Mission to Washington, D.C.” which brings delegates to the nation’s capital for three days beginning April 16.
“San Diego is about as far as you can get from Washington. It’s important that our representatives and federal agency leaders hear directly from us about the projects and policies that uniquely affect business and the people living and working in the Cali-Baja region,” said Jerry Sanders, President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. “These annual in-person meetings make a real impact, especially when we have a group of more than 170 delegates from both sides of the border coordinated and aligned in sharing San Diego’s priorities.”
A key priority for this year’s trip will be advocating for federal funding for regional infrastructure projects. The bi-national delegation – including San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas – will meet with federal government officials and agency representatives from a variety of departments including the EPA, Department of Transportation, Customs and Border Protection, Department of State, Housing and Urban Development, and several others. The delegation will share priorities around border infrastructure and staffing, coastal resilience, Community Development Block Grant funding, U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program, and many more key regional issues.
Delegates will have the opportunity to meet with the entire San Diego Congressional Delegation, Mexican Ambassador to the United States Esteban Moctezuma, Rep. Adam Schiff, representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, and tour the Pentagon.
In full, the three-day agenda includes meetings covering areas such as infrastructure, transportation, defense and veterans, national security, binational collaboration, education and childcare, and regional workforce development.
Additional key priorities for the delegation include addressing regional progress in
- healthcare,
- transportation,
- housing and urban development,
- tourism and hospitality,
- cross-border trade,
- military and veterans,
- and energy, water, and sustainability issues.
Additional notable delegates:
- San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera and Councilmembers Jen Campbell, Raul Campillo, Joe LaCava, Marni Von Wilpert, Monica Montgomery Steppe, Stephen Whitburn
- Ambassador Carlos Gonzales, Consul General of Mexico in San Diego
- Mayor of Imperial Beach Paloma Aguirre
- County of San Diego Chair Nora Vargas and Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer
- President & CEO of the Port of San Diego, Joe Stuvyesant, and Port Commissioners Castellanos (Chairman) and Michael Zucchet
- Mark Cafferty, President & CEO, San Diego Regional EDC