The Delta Grassroots Caucus (DGC) is a broad coalition of grassroots leaders in the eight-state Delta region. DGC is also a founding partner of the Economic Equality Caucus,
which advocates for economic equality across the USA.

Economic Equality Caucus, May 17-18 in Washington, DC: Jobs, Health Care, Education, Diversity

Posted on February 20, 2017 at 04:28 PM

The Economic Equality Caucus (EEC), will convene a conference on Capitol Hill on May 17-18, 2017 to have a dialogue with Members of Congress, Trump administration officials, and grassroots advocates about economic equality, job creation, health care, and education for working Americans.

The Delta Caucus is one of the key partners for this conference led by our national affiliate, the Economic Equality Caucus, which will focus on economic inequality across the country, including the Greater Delta Region from southern Illinois and Missouri to New Orleans and east to the Alabama Black Belt, Appalachia, the Southwest Border, the Midwest, Native Americans, the Mid-Atlantic Virginia/Washington, DC/Maryland region, and inner cities such as Baltimore, New York, Memphis, New Orleans and Washington, DC.

Please RSVP by registering (registration information is below) or by replying by phone to (202) 360-6347 or by email at LeePowell@delta.comcastbiz.net

This is bipartisan. We are inviting Members of Congress from both parties, Trump administration officials on key job creation and infrastructure issues, and grassroots economic development and equality advocates from across the country.

Make your voices heard in our nation’s capital: Whatever your beliefs or concerns are, come to our nation’s capital and express your views to the national powers that be. Members of Congress and administration officials are impressed when concerned citizens come to Capitol Hill to urge greater action for economic growth and equality in our country.

Nowadays, we often hear people complain about partisan gridlock in Washington, DC, or express disdain for either one or both of the major parties. Our response is that if you want to guarantee that gridlock and inaction persist, the surest way to get such a poor result is to give up on the democratic process and do nothing. Whatever your views, come to DC and give our elected officials an earful in person.

For this conference the Mid-Atlantic Region is one of the key regions, because although Virginia/Washington, DC/Maryland are relatively prosperous overall, even they have significant pockets of poverty. Economic inequality unfortunately is widespread across the country nowadays. With its dense population and many national organizations with headquarters in this area and, of course, proximity to Capitol Hill, this region has great potential for constructive activism for economic equality.

The Delta Caucus is a founding partner of the national EEC and is joining forces with similarly situated regions and populations across the country to amplify our voices in urging the national powers that be to take more effective action for those who have not shared equally in America’s prosperity and opportunity.

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS MESSAGE:

I. KEY ISSUES

II. SCHEDULE

III. REGISTRATION

IV. GROUP HOTEL

I. Key issues:

• Job creation on a range of issues, in particular support for major investments in transportation, housing and other infrastructure to create jobs and improve our deteriorating infrastructure. Job creation at good wages will be a key issue. We will urge Congress and the Trump administration to follow through on promises made during the campaign to make major investments in infrastructure to create jobs and repair America’s deteriorating infrastructure.

• A strong system of public education is essential for improving economic opportunity and equality. Whatever your views are concerning President Trump’s Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, come to DC and make your voice heard.

• Health care: The Affordable Care Act has expanded health insurance to many millions of Americans who never had it before, but even supporters of the ACA acknowledge it needs improvements. If it is to be discarded we want to know what the alternative is.

• The hunger safety net including SNAP, school meals, WIC and other hunger and nutrition programs provide a vital safety net and deserve strong funding.

• Gender, racial and ethnic diversity: We can’t have a system of economic equality if certain regions and populations always lag behind, such as the Delta, Southwest Border, Appalachia, the Rust Belt, inner cities, Native Americans, Hispanics, African Americans, women, and impoverished rural areas.

We take a comprehensive approach to economic development and equality and will cover a range of issues. We will select a few of these to prioritize since we can’t cover all these issues, and invite feedback on which three or four of these issues you would most like to see highlighted.

We are a diverse group including women, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian Americans, whites and people of all demographic backgrounds.

II. SCHEDULE

HOUSE SESSION: Wednesday evening, May 17, 2017, 4:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. The opening session is at the US House of Representatives Rayburn building, Room 2060.

SENATE SESSION: Thursday morning, May 18, 2017, 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.; Senate meeting room TBD (Senate rules do not allow room reservations until 90 days before an event)

CLOSING SESSION: Thursday afternoon, May 18, 2017, 11:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill, 212 East Capitol St. near the US Supreme Court

III. REGISTRATION

You register by sending in the early registration fees.

Early Registration fees for attending both days of the conference are $125 each until April 21, 2017. Those who have paid their annual membership dues will receive a reduction down to $100 each.

GROUP DISCOUNTS:

We will offer registration fee group discounts depending on the size of the group. For a group of five or more attendees the fees will be reduced to $75, and down to $50 for a group of 10.

For a large group there will be a relatively small lump sum. Most people wish to attend most of the conference on both days, but for a small number who can only make one session we will pro-rate the registration fees, (minimum of $25).

Late registration fees: After April 21, 2017, registration fees are increased to $160 to provide an incentive to get the fees in on time.

Space is limited so please RSVP by sending in the registration fees ASAP.

You can pay the registration fees in two ways:

Go to the website and use the PayPal process at the top of the site at www.mdgc.us

Send a check by mail. Please make out the check to “Delta Caucus” and mail to:

Delta Caucus

5030 Purslane Place

Waldorf, MD 20601

IV. GROUP HOTEL:

We have a group discount rate with the Hilton Garden Inn at Reagan National Airport at $199 for the night of May 17. Please call the hotel at (703) 920-8600 to reserve your room.

We also have some rooms for the night of May 18, although most people only stay one night to reduce costs.

The conference is scheduled so that people can save money by only having one hotel night to pay for. You can arrive Wednesday afternoon May 17 and check in and go to the opening session on Capitol Hill starting at 4:30 p.m. Then you can check out on the morning of May 18, store your luggage at the hotel if necessary, and go to the May 18 morning, lunch and early afternoon sessions.

The conference ends about 2:45 p.m. so you can get a flight back home that evening.

Spring is one of the busiest times of the year for Washington, DC so this is a relatively low rate for a hotel that is a short drive both from our meeting locations on Capitol Hill and to Reagan National Airport.

The deadline for the group hotel is April 17. After that day there may not be any more spaces available and in there are you will not get the discount rate.

For more information, contact Lee Powell, Co-Chair, EEC and Delta Caucus Executive Director (202) 360-6347