I went to D.C. last week and all I got was…

I traveled to Washington, D.C., last week for an advocacy conference that included two days of whirlwind visits to Capitol Hill, meeting with nearly 25 members of Congress.

These MoCs, (Members of Congress) from red and blue states alike had many issues of concern in common and lots of interesting things to share.

• Change is needed, coming and going to be historic! Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) said it best. “Sometimes you don’t know when you are making history. But this year, we know that in 30–40 years we will look back at this [November] vote, and it will tell us what our country is all about and where we are going for the next 200.”

• Renewable energy is a hot topic on the Hill. Many members of Congress—particularly those from Washington, Montana and Ohio—feel renewable energy must be a huge focus to help decrease our energy dependence on foreign oil while creating U.S. jobs. Check out the new movie Fields of Fuel that just recently won the People’s Choice Award from Sundance Film Festival. (Think a younger-generation, cutting-edge Michael Moore on the environment, with guest clips of our own Sen. Maria Cantwell and Rep. Jay Inslee.)

• We are paying for it through the nose, with no tissues in stock! The Iraq war is costing us, by some estimates, $1 billion a day. Think veterans’ mental and physical health and debt payments for the next 100 years!

All the while, I kept thinking about how what I was hearing applied to our local community and Pyramid clients.

• The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program, which provides free fresh produce in public schools, in the Farm Bill might be expanded.
• Title VII that trains nurses and doctors to work in diverse communities needs more funding.
• “Our country has a sick care system, not a healthcare system. Let’s focus resources on prevention and wellness,” as urged by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA).
• From treatment in military courts to privacy at medical facilities, women in the military need better response and protection related to sexual assault. Thanks to Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) for their work to make it happen.
• And so much more…

Whatever issues you might follow, just remember that “democracy is a contact sport,” as Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-KS) likes to say. Get your helmets on …