Community Leaders Lobby In Washington DC

A contingency of representatives from the community, Chamber of Commerce, business and City officials travelled to Washington DC for three days of meeting with Senators, Representaives and their staff serving Southwest Kansas in Washington. The delegation left from Liberal on Saturday and returned home on Tuesday evening. Sandwiched in between were three days of meetings with Senator Pat Roberts, Senator Jerry Moran, and Representative Tim Huelskamp, and their staffs. Representing Liberal was Chamber Director Rozelle Webb and her husband Darryl, Robert Burkey, Mike Shannon of Epic PCS, Mayor Tim Long, Vice-Mayor Joe Denoyer, Commissioner Dave Harrison, Economic Dev. Director Jeff Parsons, City Clerk Debbie Giskie, Police Chief Al Sill, Fire Chief Kelly Kirk, and Finance Director Chris Ford. Tpoics of discussion over the three day period included Essential Air Service, Highway 54, Immigration and a mobile unit to in Southwest Kansas to aid in citizenship services, FEMA, Energy, Housing, Healthcare, Transpotation, Tax & Budget, SWK Ecomony, Cap and Trade, and New Legislation. Meetings were also held with Homeland Security, and the Dept. of Transportation. Where represenatives from Garden City and Dodge City were also in Washington DC, the Southwest Kansas Coalition Executive Committee also met with Roberts, Moran, and Huelskamp as a region. The trip is annually organized by the Liberal Chamber of Commerce.