I visit with these individuals every chance I get when home in California, but each year I look forward to April when 300 leaders from Sacramento’s business, labor and government sectors come to Washington, D.C. to meet with the capital region delegation about local needs. This “Cap to Cap” trip gives regional stakeholders a chance to bring our community’s needs directly to Washington where they can see the federal landscape.
We also talked about the federal budget crisis. At my invitation, David Walker, the CEO of Comeback America Initiative, gave a presentation to our group on the budget. With his vast experience as Comptroller General and time spent in the Government Accountability Office, he presented us with a 30,000 foot view of our fiscal challenges and responsibilities. I believe it is clear that we have a moral obligation to provide a better future for our children and grandchildren. It is clear that our current path is unsustainable, reckless and immoral. That is why I have voted for responsible budgets that bring government spending under control.
Our ongoing dialogue and relationships with area representatives always yield fruit. For example, when local business owners alerted me to the serious consequences an increased 1099 reporting requirement would have had on their ability to do business, we introduced and passed H.R. 4 – legislation that repealed this damaging section of the healthcare law. More recently, when small business owners like Travis Hausauer of the Squeeze Inn asked for help curbing the rampant abuse of the Americans for Disabilities Act – where vexatious litigants force small businesses to either pay up or shut down – we introduced the ACCESS Act to discourage abuse of the ADA and ensure its original promise for those who are disabled. We will continue to work to build a bright future for our region.
With Cap to Cap concluded for this year, I look forward to seeing more of you while I am home next week. I hope to see you around town!
Sincerely,
Daniel E. Lungren
Member of Congress