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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

VICA Joins Area Officials on Wash. D.C. Lobbying Trip

The Valley Industry and Commerce Association was part of a nearly 200-member group of elected officials and business leaders who headed to Washington, D.C., late last month to lobby federal officials for Valley business interests. The trip, from March 26 to March 29, brought together 13 VICA members and staff and included 15 meetings with the state’s new committee chairs and caucus leaders, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein and U.S. Reps. Howard L. Berman, Brad Sherman and Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, said VICA President Brendan Huffman. “It’s been a pretty productive trip,” said Huffman in a telephone call from the nation’s capital after a full day of meetings. VICA also participated in events as part of a 190-member delegation of Los Angeles County business and government officials who also traveled to Washington to lobby federal officials on the regional level. Officials included Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent David L. Brewer, Police Chief William J. Bratton and several city council members. Huffman said the multi-municipality trip was a chance for VICA to make face-to-face contact with elected officials and agencies and make sure the Valley and city receive the federal dollars all local governments deserve. Sending a clear message is key, he said. “It’s good for the region to come together as other regions do and ask for our fair share of appropriations and raise the awareness of the economics of the region,” Huffman said. VICA, which has backed efforts to reduce taxes on gross receipts, also used the trip to voice support for a small business tax relief bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The measure, the Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007, would extend and increase small business expensing and tax credits, allowing small business to better afford large capital expenses. It is the eighth year the advocacy group has traveled to Washington, D.C., but the first time as part of a city delegation this large. Huffman noted that many other regions, including Chicago, New York and even Sacramento, have long organized trips to Washington, although this was a first for L.A.-region governments. He said the size of the group should convince federal officials to take L.A. seriously as an economic engine similar to other areas of nation. It was important for the Valley business community to have its voice heard. “Any time our mayor goes to Washington, D.C., to fight for our fair share, it’s important for the business community to be there as well,” Huffman said.

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