39th Annual Washington-to-Washington, D.C. Conference: Advancing South Sound Priorities on the National Stage

At the 39th annual Washington-to-Washington, D.C. Conference, Pierce County leaders tackled pressing issues, such as trade, infrastructure, health care, and energy, with a unified voice.

The Chamber’s 2025 Washington-to-Washington, D.C. Conference (WA2WA) recently wrapped up with 42 Pierce County leaders, including business, civic, and elected officials, gathering in the nation’s capital for high-impact conversations and strategic collaboration.  

Now in its 39th year, WA2WA continues to be a cornerstone of South Sound leadership, creating meaningful opportunities to engage directly with federal policymakers, strengthen regional partnerships, build cross-sector relationships, and advocate for the issues that matter most to our community. 

Relationships matter—in business and in politics. Through this annual trip, we strive to cultivate and sustain authentic, lasting connections. These relationships are the foundation for true collaboration—empowering us to tackle shared challenges, champion pragmatic policies, and implement solutions that help the South Sound thrive both regionally and globally. ​

Highlights from the Hill 

​Over two-and-a-half days, our delegation met with a bipartisan group that included: 

• Nine of Washington State’s twelve elected representatives 

• Canadian Embassy officials 

• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce 

• Regional partners from Spokane, Seattle, and Portland ​​​

Key topics of discussion included: 

• Trade and tariffs, which now impact over 70% of businesses, compared to 11% just a few years ago. The U.S. Chamber emphasized that small businesses—already facing a $6,000 average burden from recent tariffs—lack the cash flow to withstand continued pressure. ​​​

• Protecting Medicaid and Medicare, especially with federal proposals that would disproportionately affect rural and lower-income districts, including Washington’s own. Congressman Dan Newhouse highlighted that 40% of his constituents rely on Medicaid and the need to protect the program.  
• Maintaining and expanding critical infrastructure funding through reauthorization of the Surface Transportation and Coast Guard bills—Congressman Larsen called a “partnership in a sea of partisanship”. Leaders agreed: infrastructure means jobs and any delay places shovel-ready projects and economic growth at risk. 
• Federal permitting reform, with business and energy leaders stressing the need to modernize bureaucratic processes to unleash clean energy innovation and broadband expansion. 

​Meaningful conversations also took place on U.S.-Canada relations, especially relevant given the Prime Minister’s visit to D.C. during the delegation’s time there. Senator Cantwell encouraged regional leaders to “keep going,” reinforcing the importance of export-driven growth and trade alliances.  

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland shared insights on navigating a shifting political landscape while continuing to advocate for Pierce County. 

Meanwhile, Congressman Adam Smith talked about the difficulty of navigating national security in a rapidly changing international landscape. Everything from tariffs to international aid impacts our security and stability.  ​

Economic Resilience & Local Innovation 

​Delegates also explored deeper themes around economic transformation. From maritime to manufacturing to nuclear innovation, there was shared urgency around: 

• Preparing the region for 40% population growth by 2050 with expanded transit options and housing flexibility. 

• Green economy job pathways, including waste-to-profit models, clean fuels, and partnerships like the Blair Waterway project with the Puyallup Tribe, which will create over 50 union jobs. 

• A “skills-forward” approach to workforce development that prioritizes earn-while-you-learn programs and leverages institutions like the Eastside Training Center, JBLM, and the Tacoma Anchor Network 

University leaders and economic development officials alike emphasized the need for local control of funding, stronger public-private alignment, and doing what’s right for the next generation—especially as education equity, access, and online learning remain top-of-mind. 

These conversations helped shape a deeper, shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our region. You can learn more about the Chamber’s advocacy efforts here. ​

Energy & Innovation Frontiers 

A strong theme throughout the trip was economic resilience through innovation and energy transformation. From nuclear to maritime to digital infrastructure, the delegation heard repeated calls for: 

• Federal permit reform as a prerequisite for clean energy buildout 

• Expanded support for green economy job pathways and smart grid investment 

• Recognition of the maritime sector’s national security role, including Tacoma’s Blair Waterway deepening and the Port’s collaboration with the Puyallup Tribe to bring 50+ union longshore jobs online 

​Senator Cantwell also noted export growth under the Biden administration and the need for congressional authority over executive trade actions. ​

Investing in Leadership and Community 

Alongside eight local elected officials, several Chamber board members joined the trip as attendees and sponsors: 

• Eddie Bratko, MultiCare Health System 

• Eric Johnson, Port of Tacoma 

• Christine Nhan, Puget Sound Energy 

• Ryan Wheaton, Pierce Transit 

• Rich White, The Boeing Company 

We are grateful to our 2025 sponsors, whose generous investment made this experience possible: MultiCare Health Systems, The Port of Tacoma, Alaska Airlines, The Boeing Company, Regenerative Industrial, Lightcurve, TOTE Maritime Alaska, Pierce Transit, Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026, Puget Sound Energy, and Sound Transit. ​

Looking Ahead to 40 Years

As we continue building partnerships and advancing collective impact, the connections and discussions from this year’s WA2WA trip will continue to inform our work. They deepen our understanding of the South Sound’s diverse needs and the opportunities ahead. 
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Beyond the policy briefings and Capitol Hill meetings, attendees also found time to connect over D.C.’s incredible culinary scene—strengthening relationships that will fuel continued collaboration. With more than 90% of attendees indicating they plan to return, the value of this long-standing tradition is as strong as ever. 

As we prepare for WA2WA’s 40th year, we’re inspired by emerging opportunities in transportation modernization, clean energy, workforce development, and federal procurement reform. These themes point to our region’s potential as a national model for collaboration, innovation, and inclusive economic growth. ​