4:45pm | As part of the Long Beach Federal Legislative Committee’s annual trip to Washington D.C. to meet with political leaders and federal agencies, First District Councilmember Robert Garcia and 3rd District Councilmember Gary DeLong spent their first full day in the nation’s capital today discussing the Boeing C-17 project, the Long Beach Breakwater and funding for stormwater drains with government leaders.

The two committee members met with Congress representatives Linda Sánchez and Dana Rohrabacher – both of whom represent portions of Long Beach – as well as the staff of California Senator Barbara Boxer. They plan to hold similar meetings tomorrow and Thursday. Long Beach Government Affairs Advisor Tom Modica is also present on the trip.

“Today was our first full day and it was very productive,” Garcia told the staging-live.lbpost.com in a phone conversation this afternoon. DeLong agreed.

“You’re sharing the best of Long Beach with your Congressional representatives,” he said. “It’s all good news.”

In particular, stormwater could be an important topic of discussion over the next few days. The city is asking for about $40 million over the next four years for stormdrain cleanup, with the goal of improving water quality in the Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers that eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean.

“I’m optimistic that funding will continue to retrofit our stormdrains,” said DeLong, who also noted that Congressmember Rohrabacher reiterated his support for restoration of the Colorado Lagoon. Long Beach is seeking federal support to comply with designations made by the Army Corps of Engineers.

“Today has been important,” Garcia said, “Because we’re securing federal dollars for Long Beach.”

Garcia also said that he and DeLong have received support for the extension of the Boeing C-17 program and the approximately 5,000 local jobs that exist because of it. Funding for the program was eliminated in the latest round of cuts for the Department of Defense 2010 budget, threatening the local economy if the program were to shut down without government purchases.

“The C-17 discussions are positive but the realities are that the government won’t make additional purchases until Congress realizes the C-17 is a better plane than the C-5A,” said DeLong. “It’s one of those political sacred cows that no one wants to kill. The C-17 is a much better plane.”

One of the most important meetings will take place on Thursday, when Garcia and DeLong will sit down with the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss their ongoing feasibility study for configuring the Long Beach Breakwater. Meetings later in the week will also be held with Congresswoman Laura Richardson and California Senator Dianne Feinstein.

For now, both Councilmembers sound optimistic and after making a few similar trips to Washington D.C. by himself in the past, DeLong seems enthusiastic to have a friendly face with him.

“These trips are more effective when it’s a team,” he said.

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