(SACRAMENTO, CA) Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, announces that she will travel to Washington, D.C. as part of a bi-partisan delegation of over 30 members of the Assembly to lobby Congress and the Bush Administration on key issues facing California.

The delegation will be lobbying our federal government from March 19th through March 21st.

"We can get a lot accomplished for California if state and federal officials work together," says Evans.  "Identifying more opportunities to work together is exactly what this trip is all about."

Led by Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines (R-Clovis), the delegation will meet with officials in the White House, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and other members of Congress.

Items on the agenda include healthcare reform, climate change, foster youth reform, affordable housing, and education.  Critical to these and other issues on the delegation’s agenda is getting more federal funds sent to California.  The delegation will meet with various California representatives serving on the House Appropriations Committee, including Rep. Louise Roybal-Allard and Rep. John Doolittle.

"We only get back 79 cents for every dollar sent to Washington," says Evans.  "It's been like this for years.  Our message to Congress is simple.  California has paid the bills long enough."

The delegation will also meet with Senator Ted Kennedy; Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Chair of the California Congressional Delegation; Rep. Henry Waxman, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health; and Rep. Lois Capps, who Co-Chairs the Congressional Women's Caucus.