New Mexico Chamber Leaders Join Udall for Economic Development Meeting on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) hosted two New Mexico chamber of commerce leaders on Capitol Hill for a discussion on job creation and economic recovery. Alex O. Romero, President and CEO, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, and Laura E. Sanchez, CEO, New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce, joined Udall for a meeting in the U.S. Capitol before the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee.

The goal of the discussion was to highlight how the federal government and local chambers of commerce are working together to build relationships and grow the economy. Photos of Romero and Sanchez at the meeting and in Udall's Washington, D.C., office can be viewed here .

"Our state is facing tough economic times right now, and I am working very closely with the private sector in New Mexico to put us back on a path to creating more good-paying jobs," Udall said. "Leaders like Alex and Laura provide valuable resources to job seekers, workers and businesses every day, and I'm doing all I can to make sure the federal government is supporting their efforts as we continue to strengthen New Mexico's economy. Our business community is full of ingenuity, and I was glad to showcase that during our meeting on economic recovery today."

"As the leader of one of the largest Hispanic chambers of commerce in the country, I was proud to represent our Albuquerque-area businesses and share with leaders in Washington how we are working to close the achievement gap through education, expand workforce training to help job seekers gain new skills, and support New Mexico's tourism industry," Romero said. "I appreciate the opportunity to join fellow chamber members for this important discussion, and I want to thank Senator Udall for everything he is doing to support us in working to strengthen New Mexico's economy."

"Today's meeting was an excellent opportunity to learn from and share resources with fellow business leaders, especially those who are driving growth and creating jobs in the renewable energy sector," Sanchez said. "Our emerging businesses, driven by our mission of people, planet and profit, can do even more with smart federal government policies, whether it's utilizing the renewable energy production tax credit, building infrastructure, supporting ecotourism through our public lands, or simply streamlining federal support through existing partnerships. I am thankful Senator Udall is a strong partner in these efforts, and I was proud to join him for the discussion today on growing New Mexico's economy."

Last week, Udall met with the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce in his Washington, D.C., office to discuss strengthening the federal government's partnerships with local business leaders in New Mexico, following his visit to the Chamber's luncheon on May 28, 2013, in Albuquerque.