What to Look for at the CBCF’s Annual Legislative Conference
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference next week offers prime opportunities for attendees to get up close and engaged with legislators and other government officials on a broad range of issues. It also doesn’t hurt that so many CBC members also chair some of the most powerful committees and subcommittees in the House.
On the agenda is an economic security and small business track that will be of particular interest to experienced entrepreneurs and those just starting to think about striking out on their own.
Braintrust forums, which are led by lawmakers, will cover such topics as doing business with the Department of Homeland Security; how the Rothe ruling, in which the U.S. Court of Appeals struck down a Department of Defense minority preference contracting program, affects minority contracting; tapping into the stimulus; barriers to wealth creation in the black community; and preparing for and obtaining small business financing. The national town hall meeting will cover economic recovery and opportunity.
The emerging leaders track includes a roundtable with young elected officials, policy experts and members of the Obama administration. It also features a session on higher education funding in the current economic climate, which is right on time since the House just passed a bill on that very topic that aims make paying for college a lot easier.
The conference runs Sept. 23-26 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. On-site registration is available for $100.