Valley leaders take transportation, water issues to D.C.

Local officials in the San Joaquin Valley will make their annual trip to Washington, D.C., to press the region’s concerns about transportation and water.

The Valley Voice delegation, as it’s called, will meet with members of Congress and other federal officials Tuesday and Wednesday.

The local officials include Stanislaus County Supervisor Bill O’Brien, Patterson Mayor Luis Molina, Merced County Supervisor Daron McDaniel and Los Banos Mayor Mike Villalta.

Dozens of elected leaders and staff members will take part, from all eight of the region’s counties and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. The trip is sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council.

A summary on the council website lists various priorities, such as improving water supplies, expanding highways and reforming the Clean Air Act.

“The success of one Valley county weighs heavily on the success of another,” said Madera Mayor Robert Poythress, chairman of the council. “Our ability to work together sends a strong message about our regional collaboration and importance we place collectively on transportation, economic development and water.”

The delegation will meet with House members from the Valley, including Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, and with Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein. The group also will meet with officials at federal agencies and congressional committees involved with transportation, the environment and other issues.

More information is at www.sjvcogs.org.

This story was originally published September 6, 2015 at 5:59 PM with the headline "Valley leaders take transportation, water issues to D.C.."