Traveling on their own resources and taking time away from the busy family and work commitments, a dozen members of Corona’s business community just completed a trip to our nation’s Capital to lobby for more common sense regulations, long term tax reform that rewards job creation, and continued growth at the NAVSEA Corona Division Navy base.

“Corona’s employers are always very active in supporting our efforts to go to Sacramento and Washington DC because policymakers need to hear directly from the people that create the jobs!” said Bobby Spiegel, President/CEO of the Corona Chamber of Commerce.  “This year’s group really worked overtime, meeting from breakfast through dinner most days helping our elected leaders, opinion leaders, and others understand the challenges we face.”

During the trip, Corona’s business leaders met with Rep. Ken Calvert, Rep. Mark Takano, and key staff for Senator Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Darrell Issa, along with State of California military commission leaders, officers in the Navy and many others.

“Morning, noon, and night our federal government’s rules, regulations, and tax policy effect Corona’s employees and employers and so our strategy to maximize our trip to DC was to spend morning, noon, and night working with leaders,” explained Bobby Spiegel. “While we also included tours of the Capitol, the White House, Mount Vernon and the workings of the Library of Congress, we met with over twenty leaders to understand proposed policies and legislation and work to bring jobs and opportunity here to Corona.”

This is the third consecutive year of the Corona National Policy Summit and each of the participants agree that when it comes to maintaining strong operations at NAVSEA Corona, to tax reform, to common sense regulation, our local message is being heard in Washington.

“It was very heartening to see leaders in Washington like Congressman Calvert, Congressman Takano, and others understand our issues and be working hard to help our area,” said Dean Seif, Chairman of the Board for the Corona Chamber of Commerce. “Our timing, with the House Leadership change announced while we were flying back made for an interesting and productive trip.”

During the trip’s first day, while many of the participants for the trip were flying back to Washington DC, House Speaker John Boehner announced his retirement.  During the meetings on the trip, it became clear that current House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) will likely be elevated to the Speakership.

“Our four days in Washington were historic, exciting, and productive,” said Spiegel summing up the work in the nation’s Capital.  “It was an honor to meet and work with everyone we worked with and we look forward to expanding our work to help Corona’s business leaders even more next year.”