Welcome to Simi Valley, Chairman Chabot

At my request, Rep. Steve Chabot, Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, flew across the country to visit Simi Valley last Friday to learn about the many small businesses in our community and the challenges they face. Here are a few highlights from his visit:

Overtime Round Table
We started our day with a round table discussion with representatives from businesses and organizations in Simi Valley about a recently proposed rule by the Department of Labor that would drastically alter the way salaried employees receive overtime pay. Much of the conversation centered on concerns about the rule, its impact on Simi Valley, and what Congress could do to help. Thank you to everyone who participated and provided important feedback!

Discussing the DOL Overtime Rule with Simi Valley Business Owners

Plastic View ATC Visit

After our round table, Rep. Chabot and I visited Plastic View ATC, a veteran-owned company that manufactures transparent window shades for a variety of functions, from residential homes to airport control towers. We had a great conversation about efforts by the House Committee on Small Business to help military personnel start and grow their own enterprises.

Visiting Plastic View ATC

Lunch Break

For lunch, Rep. Steve Chabot and I stopped by Yolanda’s Mexican Café for some excellent food and a great conversation with the owner, Rod Gietzen, about the challenges that restaurants face in dealing with too much bureaucratic red-tape. Thanks Rod!

Enjoying lunch and quality conversation at Yolanda’s Mexican Cafe

Tour of Udash

The next stop for Rep. Steve Chabot and I was a tour of Udash Inc., a U.S. Government Certified Small Disadvantaged machining and manufacturing firm that specializes in aircraft hinge components. We discussed our efforts to help businesses like theirs, including H.R. 4322, the DOD Mentor-Protégé Cooperation Reform Act- a bill that I introduced this year that would help disadvantaged businesses earn contracts with the Department of Defense that partners them with larger companies that can provide technical assistance and business development services.

Touring the Udash facility

Last But Not Least : AeroVironment

The last item on Friday’s agenda for Chairman Chabot and I was a visit to AeroVironment, a company that designs, produces, and supports unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructures. The owners shared their experience as a growing manufacturing firm and the challenges that they face in contracting with the government and in maneuvering a wide variety of regulations.

After a day full of tours and discussions, Chairman Chabot walked away with a better understanding of the Simi Valley small business community and the challenges they face. I look forward to working with him on the House Committee on Small Business to address those challenges and help our small businesses thrive.

Operation All The Way Home

Last Saturday, Jaime Goodreau and Operation All The Way Home (OATH) hosted a successful Pancake Breakfast. This fantastic organization helps veterans of the United States Armed Forces with the acquisition of housing, both permanent and transitional. Councilman Thompson, Danny Bazzell, Dennis Anderson and many other leaders of the community showed up to support their effort.

OATH Pancake Breakfast

For A Cause

On Saturday night, Lily and I attended the Soroptimist International of Santa Clarita Valley 5th annual Gentlemen for a Cause event, which was raising money for community service.

Great event, Soroptimist International!

Homelessness Roundtable

Earlier this week I met with legislators and representatives from government agencies around the Santa Clarita Valley to learn how our office can help with homelessness. I learned a great deal about what is being done and what else can be accomplished to help with this important issue. Thank you to everyone who participated, I look forward to working with you all.

Discussing efforts to help the homeless in Santa Clarita

Woodward HRT Visit

On Tuesday I took a tour of Woodward HRT’s facility in Valencia, where they design and manufacture control systems and control system components for aircraft engines, industrial engines and turbines, power generation and mobile industrial equipment. We discussed the challenges they face in growing their operation and how the House Committee on Small Business can help them expand and continue employing our neighbors. Thank you to the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber and the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation for facilitating the visit.

Speaking with an employee at Woodward HRT in Valencia

A Stop at the Sandwich Shop

After my tour on Tuesday, I stopped in for a bite to eat at The Sandwich Shop in the Valencia Industrial Park. Charlie, the owner, and I had a very interesting conversation about running a restaurant in California and the different challenges they have faced since their doors opened in 1981.

Keep up the great work, Charlie!

Golden Valley

This week I spoke to students at Golden Valley High School in Santa Clarita. We discussed federal and local issues, ranging from foreign policy to water. It’s always great meeting with and hearing from the future leaders of our country. Thank you to the Administration at Golden Valley for helping set this up!

Very impressed by the students at Golden Valley High School

Calling All Artists

I’m excited to announce that I am now accepting artwork submissions for the Congressional Art Competition of 2016. High School students can submit an original work of art for a chance to be selected as the 25th Congressional District’s winner. The first place winner will be provided with complimentary airfare to Washington, D.C. to see his or her art displayed in the Capitol Building—which will be featured for an entire year. Artwork must be submitted by Friday, April 24th to one of my District Offices in Antelope Valley, Simi Valley, or to the KHTS Radio Station in Santa Clarita. A winner will be selected by a panel of judges consisting of members of the art community throughout the district, and announced by May 4th.

For more information on guidelines and rules, please visit my website or call Nicole in my Santa Clarita Valley Office at (661) 255-5630.

Mentor Protégé On March 1 I spoke in a House Armed Services Committee hearing about my bill, the DOD Mentor-Protégé Cooperation Reform Act, which would help some small businesses compete for federal contracts through mentoring from larger, more experienced firms. More information on the bill here. Simi Valley Come to D.C. Last week I met in my Capitol office with representatives from the City of Simi Valley, including Mayor Pro Tem Keith Mashburn, Council Member Mike Judge, City Manager Eric Levitt, Assistant to the City Manager Sam Argabrite, and Simi Valley Police Department Chief Mitch McCann. We discussed how we are going to accomplish our mutual priorities in Congress this year, such as bringing water to Southern California, boosting public safety, and the cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. Meeting with representatives from the City of Simi Valley Hypersonic Weapons I was honored to speak at last Tuesday’s event at The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, where we rolled out a new study by Major General Curtis Bedke and Dr. Richard P. Hallion on Hypersonic Weapons and U.S. National Security. You can read the full groundbreaking report here. Speaking about the future of hypersonic weapons NASA Armstrong Thank you to David McBride, Director of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, for stopping by my office in Washington, D.C. last Thursday. I look forward to continuing to work with you on advancing America’s aerospace programs! Armstrong Center Director, David McBride Calling All Interns! Do you know anyone who is looking for work experience or wants to gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process? My Washington, D.C. Office is currently accepting interns for 2016. Qualified candidates are encouraged to visit my website.