SHRM Government Affairs in Action
Thursday, 17th of September 2009 at 04:12:38 PMSHRM Government Affairs in Action
by Kathleen Coulombe, Manager, Tax & Benefits
The week of September 14th was a busy one for the SHRM Government Affairs team as they continued to raise SHRM’s visibility with key policy stakeholders. The week kicked off with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) Chairman’s Welcome Reception as part of their annual conference. As sponsors of CHCI, SHRM CEO, Lon O’Neil, delivered opening remarks at the Morning Plenary session of the conference on Tuesday, September 15th, which focused on Latinos Leading on the Economy and Workforce. The keynote speaker for the session was Secretary of Labor, Hon. Hilda Solis. Lon also joined the CHCI’s Board that evening at a networking reception. Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA), Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) were a few of the honored guests in attendance.
Across town, Government Affairs staff attended the Democratic Leadership Council’s Roundtable with Senator Ben Nelson. Sen. Nelson spoke to the group about health care reform and the importance of bipartisanship. That same night, Government Affairs staff briefed the Alabama State Council in preparation for their Capitol Hill visits the next day with their congressional delegates, including Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Richard Shelby (R-AL). The Alabama council spoke to their members of Congress about Employment Verification, Workplace Flexibility and Health Care Reform.
Wednesday, September 16th brought the opportunity for SHRM CEO, Lon O’Neil to meet and interact with the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan. The John Quincy Adams Society’s luncheon, a bipartisan event hosted by the Republican Main Street Partnership, gave SHRM the chance to not only meet with Greenspan, but to gather in a more personal setting with a 26 members of Congress, including Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN), Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL) and Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS). Chairman Greenspan spoke to the group about the challenges in the U.S. financial system, but said despite the current economic climate, the future for the American economy looks brighter. “Remember, this is a financial crisis, not a crisis of American business” said Chairman Greenspan.
Later that evening, Lon O’Neil and members of the Government Affairs team attended the CHCI Annual Awards Program. Joining O’Neil at the event were a variety of stakeholders, including Elizabeth Montoya, Chief of staff at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Fernando Barrueta, CEO of the Hispanic College Fund and Evelyn Zayas Amador, Vice President of Human Resources for the United Way Worldwide (UWW). The event culminated with special guests President and First Lady Obama. Obama spoke of the importance of diversity in America and the hopes to accomplish immigration reform in the near future.
Stay tuned for more Government Affairs action!
