April 22, 2025

This year’s annual delegation trip to Washington, D.C. brought together over 140 delegates joining forces to meet with the new administration and congressional members on a variety of regional priorities including trade, housing, defense, immigration, energy, healthcare, and others. We were joined by a diverse mix of leaders from the San Diego and Baja California region representing different industries, organizations, and publicly held offices including:

• Baja California Congresswoman Ana Santana
• State of Baja California Assemblymember Adrian Valle
• Consul General of the United States in Tijuana Christopher Teal
• National City Mayor Ron Morrison
• Coronado Mayor John Duncan
• Tecate Mayor Roman Cota
• San Diego City Council President and SANDAG Vice Chair Joe La Cava
• San Diego Councilmembers Marni Von Wilpert and Stephen Whitburn
• Chula Vista Councilmember Michael Inzunza
• Tecate Councilmember Isaac Contreras López
• And Tijuana Councilmembers Gina Arana, Heriberto Ramirez, Melissa Pacheco, Michel Garcia, Monica Padilla, and Pablo Yañez.

Their active participation throughout the trip was critical to advance our region’s priorities including border efficiency, infrastructure investment, economic development and trade facilitating policies, mitigating transboundary pollution, healthcare policies, and innovation technology. We were encouraged by some wins and opportunities to raise concern about actions that would have a detrimental impact on our community.

On the trade and economic development track, Mexican Ambassador Moctezuma was encouraged by strong bilateral ties and ongoing communication between economic, foreign affairs, and public safety authorities. In our meetings with Department of State, Small Business Administration, and Department of Commerce, top-level officials underlined the importance of business delegations which continue to be a powerful mechanism to educate decision makers on our region’s contribution to national economy and elevate regional priorities such as infrastructure and policies that our businesses need to thrive. As we left D.C., the Administration announced a 90-day pause on previously announced reciprocal tariffs, and we hope that this signals moving in the direction of eliminating them entirely. The Chamber continues to actively voice opposition on tariffs in partnership with state and nationwide partners including the U.S. Chamber who shared an online tool to highlight how trade helps boost growth in the U.S.

Delegates met with Department of Transportation leadership and received updates on priority projects receiving federal funding including the airport Transit Connection, the LOSSAN Corridor, and the Otay Mesa East land port of entry, which recently received $150M after an initial grant pause. We continue to push for the resumption of other previously awarded grant funding which was later paused by the new Administration.

In the healthcare track, delegates discussed NIH funding cuts and the repercussions on research institutions, biotech companies, and small startups. We advocated against Medicaid funding cuts emphasizing the importance of federal funding for State and County budgets. With the Senate in the driver’s seat, we learned that Medicaid cuts will probably come from compromise in the Senate. The Chamber will continue to advocate in support of federal funding and raise concern on the negative economic effects on San Diego businesses, especially hospital systems, clinics, and health plans.

Advocating for immigration reform that provides a clear and standardized path to citizenship and connects our business community with the workforce they need continues to be a Chamber priority. We heard from experts discussing the impacts of executive orders limiting or revoking visas across the globe and industries, not limited to international students who contribute to reducing in-state tuition.

Delegates continued to urge action and funding to mitigate transboundary pollution impacting the Tijuana River Valley and our community. Throughout meetings with agencies and congressmembers, we highlighted the importance of the EPA’s Border Water Infrastructure Program, expediting the expansion of the International Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Ysidro, and advancing collaborative efforts with Mexico to implement a list of infrastructure projects which both countries already committed to. EPA Administrator Zeldin visited our region this week and we welcome his attention to elevate this issue as a top priority for the federal administration. His agenda included meetings with regional leaders and authorities from both sides of the border including upcoming Chamber President & CEO, Chris Cate.

Other meetings included discussions with Assistant Secretary of the Navy on Research, Development & Acquisitions, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment, and the House and Armed Services Committee, where we discussed initiatives to increase small business participation in the Defense Industrial Base, support for veterans, improvements to base and private housing, provided updates on the NAVWAR redevelopment, and addressed current challenges in civilian workforce contracting.

Our conversations during this year’s Mission to Washington, D.C., underscored the importance of the ongoing dialogue between the San Diego business community and our federal partners. We saw advocacy in action, and the outcomes have global impacts.

Photo Album Here

Delegates met with:

• Congressmembers Ami Bera, John Garamendi, Sara Jacobs, Jay Obernolte, Scott Peters, and Juan Vargas.
• Senator Adam Schiff
• Mexican Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán
• Pete Flores, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• Brenda Johnson-Turner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy
• Katherine Dueholm, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mexico and Canada, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Department of State
• Lisa Shimkat, Associate Administrator for the Office of Field Operations and Acting Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade, U.S. Small Business Administration
• Wassila Thiaw, Acting Director, NOAA Climate Prediction Center
• Trevor Kellogg, Acting Under Secretary for the Department of Commerce
• Joshua Meltzer, Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development, Brookings Institution
• Nagesh Rao, Acting Director, National Institute of Standards & Technology, Department of Commerce
• Rodney Davis, Head of Government Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Sara Yun, Director, Bureau of Energy Resources, Department of State
• Julissa Marceno, Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer, Smithsonian
• Leadership at the Department of Transportation

See full agenda here

Statements from our delegates:

“This delegation is more than just showing up to meetings, it’s about advocating for the resources, policies, and partnerships that help make our binational region the best place to live and work,” said Jessica Anderson, Interim President and CEO at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. “The decisions made in Washington have a direct impact on our business community’s ability to grow, thrive, and remain competitive. By engaging directly with federal leaders, we’re making sure our priorities are part of the national conversation.”

“Federal support of San Diego’s binational, housing, environmental, and business initiatives strengthens not only our city and the region but the country,” said San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava. “The Chamber’s annual trip to Washington D.C. ensures our voice is heard and sets the stage for alignment in our goals and collaboration in our solutions.”

“This delegation trip offers the appropriate setting to build a binational dialogue for incentives and infrastructure that can not only minimize the economic damage, but also turn this crisis into an opportunity to consolidate and strengthen the CaliBaja region and position it as a key destination in nearshoring and the reconfiguration of global value chains,” said State of Baja California Congresswoman Ana Santana.

“When we as policy makers are 3000 miles from the decisions being made at the Federal level, it is vitally important to have as much direct face to face interaction as possible to be up to date and properly be able to represent the needs of our region,” said National City Mayor Ron Morrison.

“The Chamber’s annual Washington, D.C. trip is a key opportunity to advocate for the needs of our San Diego region. From securing investments in infrastructure to advancing policies that support our local workforce, conversations with our federal leaders are essential to ensuring San Diego continues to thrive,” said San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert. “With Washington D.C.’s threats to cut vital funding and programs from everyday families in California, it is critical that San Diego have a strong voice in championing policies that enhance our economy, bolster public safety, and improve the quality of life for all San Diegans.”

See press conference here.