 A delegation from the Dunn Area Chamber of Commerce attended the Washington Perspective held in Washington DC on September 14-15. The event was hosted by Congressman Bob Etheridge and eight other Congressmen representing eastern North Carolina. The delegation included Chamber President John Snipes of Snipes Insurance Service; President Elect Renee Ellmers of Brent R. Ellmers MD and Trinity Wound Care Center; VP of Community Development Kim Schmidlin and her husband, Jim of Carolina Therapy Services; Executive Vice President Tammy Williams; Board Members Rhett Raynor of DTH Contract Services; and Renee Jackson of Jernigan’s Nursery & Trading Post; and Shelley Tinsley of Magnolia Living Center.
On Monday, the delegation heard information on the growing military presence in North Carolina due to BRAC. The presentation was presented by representatives of various military organizations including Paul Dordal of the BRAC Regional Task Force, Scott Dorney of the North Carolina Military Business Center and Colonel Michael Alexander, Military Advisor to Governor Beverly Perdue.
The delegation then received a briefing from Congressman Etheridge and the other Congressmen representing the various districts on topics from Heath Care Reform to Cap and Trade to the nation’s economy.
On Tuesday, the delegation attended a seminar featuring various speakers including General Wesley Clark, Governor Howard Dean and Senator Trent Lott. Both the Monday and Tuesday meetings were held in the new Capitol Visitors Center.
The delegation met with Congressman Etheridge and Senator Kay Hagan on Tuesday afternoon before departing DC. They presented both representatives a resolution from the Chamber concerning the current Health Care Legislation pending before Congress. The resolution endorses health care reform with the goal to ensure expanded coverage and affordable health insurance premiums for United States citizens. However, the Chamber is concerned with Federal mandates that impose burdensome or punitive requirements on private businesses. In the resolution, the chamber urges congress to temper its haste to pass this legislation merely for the sake of meeting deadlines and encourages the input from hospitals, physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers as well as patients and other citizens.
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