Washington D.C. Trip

Watch this video documenting the DC Trip during the first 30 years and all that it has brought to our Metro.

The 2012 trip dates are May 9-11, 2012

The charter flight and hotel room block are sold out. However, we can still take additional registrations if you are booking your own flight and hotel. Click here to visit the registration page. A downloadable registration form, along with the preliminary itinerary, is available in the 2012 DC Trip Information Section at the bottom of the page.

The trip provides business, civic, and community leaders from across the region a unique opportunity to talk with members of Congress and the Administration about a wide range of issues important to Central Iowa.

We are pleased to once again be offering private charter air service in 2012 for trip participants. There are various trip package options available based upon your travel plans, and the full trip package includes:

- charter air service
- ground transportation to and from airport
- baggage handling
- two nights’ accommodations at the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill
- two luncheons, two breakfasts, one evening reception, access to all the workshops and breakout sessions, along with all the supporting materials designed to put you in touch with Administration officials and Iowa's Congressional delegation and staff

Our host hotel this year is the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill.

Register for the 2012 Iowa Congressional Reception in DC
Wednesday, May 9, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
101 Constitution Rooftop (above Charlie Palmers)
Click here to RSVP online

Register for DC Embassy Meetings
These meetings are for groups/companies working to expand agricultural, commercial, and industrial trade opportunities with the respective countries. **For security reasons, you must register in advance for this meeting. Please email Marlena Bandurski at mbandurski@desmoinesmetro.com if you are interested in attending, and include any topics you would like covered so we can submit to the Embassies advance.
People's Republic of China Embassy Meeting: Thursday, May 10, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Brazil Embassy Meeting: Thursday, May 10, 11:00 a.m. - Noon
Canadian Embassy Meeting: Thursday, May 10, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Register for DC Side Trips - Thursday Afternoon, May 10
This is a great opportunity to get out and explore DC while in town if you don't have any meetings on Thursday afternoon. Click on any of the side trips below for more information and to register. Groups will be led by a Partnership staff member and attendees can walk or share cabs to the specific venue.
Guided U.S. Capitol Tour with Congressional Staff: 2:45-4:30 p.m., May 10 (limited to 15 participants)
National Museum of American History - American Stories Exhibit (unguided): 2:00-4:00 p.m., May 10
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial (unguided): 2:00-4:00 p.m., May 10
Guided Capitol Visitors Tour/Capitol Tour (no gallery visits), 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Visit the Discovery Space Shuttle at Dulles Smithsonian Museum (on way to airport for return flight home): Charter buses depart Washington Court at 12:30 p.m., May 11

DM/DC 2011 Trip Recap

Attendees witnessed an extensive lineup of guest speakers that addressed the group throughout the three-day trip. The activities kicked off Wednesday, May 11, with a Congressional leadership lunch featuringU.S. House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD). All seven members of the Iowa Congressional delegation—Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-3rd District), Rep. Tom Latham (R-4th District), Congressman Steve King (R-5th District), Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-2nd District), and Rep. Bruce Braley (D-1st District)—addressed the group at the Thursday breakfast. U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) addressed the group during the Congressional leadership lunch on Thursday, May 12. Attendees also had the opportunity to hear from U.S. Secretary of Transportation Tom Vilsack during the Iowa Congressional Reception at Union Station. The Friday morning Congressional Staff Briefing and brunch featured a media panel discussion and analysis on the upcoming elections, the Iowa Caucuses, and items of political interest with Judy Woodruff of PBS’s “NewsHour”; Jeff Zeleny from the New York Times; Dan Balz with the Washington Post, and Kelly O’Donnell of NBC News. Other participant activities included workshops on healthcare, K-12 education reform, economic development, innovation policy, tax and budget, and arts and culture, along with a number of other small group meetings with key Administration and Congressional staffers. Visits to the Embassies of Brazil, Korea, and India to discuss the expansion of agricultural, commercial, and industrial trade also were conducted.

DM/DC 2009 was featured in the Fall 2009 ACCE Chamber Executive magazine. To view the article click here.

2012 DC Trip Information

2012 DC Trip Attendees as of 5-8-12

2012 DC Trip Itinerary (as of 5-8-12_2, subject to change)

2012 Trip Registration Form

2012 Trip Sponsorship Information

2012 DC Trip Cancellation Policy

2012 Federal Policy Agenda

Priority Issues & Projects

Human Capital

Infrastructure

Innovation

Quality of Place