Snow, lawmakers, government officials and lobbyists greeted a delegation from the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., this week. Some 36 local officials embarked on the “C.C. to D.C.” lobbying trip on Sunday. The crew returns home today, but only after serious sit downs with top policymakers.
The group spent time in the office of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. Cruz expressed support for the area’s energy production, especially hydraulic fracking in the Eagle Ford Shale formation, which has lead a local economic boom.
U.S. Representative Mike Conaway also spent time with delegates. Conaway, a Republican, represents 29 counties in the 11th congressional district of Texas, which includes Midland, Odessa and San Angelo. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Conaway could be an important connection in possible future Base Realignment and Closure considerations. Expected military spending cuts could affect the Army Depot and Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi. The group was also expected to meet with officials from the Pentagon.
Chamber members trudged though early spring snow flurries to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce building for a chamber to chamber meet and greet. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce at 1615 H. Street, NW near the White House, is the world’s largest business federation. It represents around 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors and regions of the country, as well as local chambers such as Corpus Christi.
Chamber President Foster Edwards said the goal of the trip was to tell policymakers all the good things about Corpus Christi.
