Roybal-Allard (CA34) - Press Release - Washington, D.C. – Photos: Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Access Washington, D.C.” visit..

(April 16, 2008) Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) (shown in light purple pant suit in front) welcomes Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and members of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce to our nation’s capital to kick-off the chamber’s annual “Access Washington, D.C.” visit. The delegation includes nearly 200 business and civic leaders from across the Los Angeles region who met with more than 75 elected officials, including members of Congress and administration officials, to advocate for federal investments in the Southern California region. Key issues on the delegation’s priority list this year included transportation, housing and economic stimulus policies. Other Access Washington, D.C. participants included: Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent David L. Brewer III; LAUSD School Board President Mónica García; LAUSD Board Member Yolie Flores-Aguilar; Santa Monica Mayor Herb Katz; City of Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook; City of San Gabriel Mayor Harry Baldwin; members of the Los Angeles City Council; leaders from five county transit agencies; and more than 20 Southern California business advocacy and trade organizations.

At today’s (April 16) Access Washington, D.C. press conference on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol complex, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-4) made the following remarks:

“Given the fact that our region’s economy ranks 15th in the world, with more international trade than 47 states in our nation, it is critical to our country’s future that Southern California successfully meets the many challenges it faces today.

One of those challenges is making sure that the growth at our region’s ports is supported by the federal investment needed to renovate and expand our transportation infrastructure.

Another challenge is to ensure that Congress develops effective policies across industry sectors to stimulate our economy, create more jobs, and address our housing crisis. The Southern California region is particularly impacted by a housing shortage as our population is growing and expected to double by 2020.

While it is true that Congress has begun to address these challenges, there is little doubt much more needs to be done. It is therefore essential that all the Southern California stakeholders work together to make sure that the specific needs of our region and our state are part of the equation.

Toward that end, we have in our nation’s capital an outstanding group of Southern California business leaders and advocates who will meet today with congressional leaders to discuss the challenges and the significant return on investment our region offers America.

I thank the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce for leading this distinguished delegation and I thank each of its members for partnering with me and my Southern California colleagues to highlight the critical importance our region has to our nation.”