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BLOG: Day 2 - Carrier workers in DC asking Congress for help

Posted at 2:20 PM, Jun 23, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-23 14:24:15-04

Editor's note: This is the second in a series of first-person accounts from Carrier's union representatives. They are in Washington, D.C., trying to get our lawmakers to listen to the problems of Carrier workers.

It's been another great day here in our nation's capital.  

We started the day in the Longworth building at the Capitol complex. 

We met with Congressman Earl Blumenauer's (D-OR) Legislative Director Laura Still Thrift, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer's Policy Director Thomas Mahr and Director of Member Services Courtney Fry, Congressman Robert "Bobby" Scott's (D-VA) Legislative Director David Dailey, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries' (D-NY) Senior Legislative Assistant Matt Wiesenthal, Congressman Charles Rangel's (D-NY) Pearson Fellow Benjamin Garcia and Congressman Lloyd Doggett's (D-TX) Senior Legislative Assistant Doug Molof. 

It was very interesting meeting Steny Hoyer's legislative assistants because Mr. Hoyer is the second-ranking figure in the House Democratic Leadership hierarchy. 

They seemed very supportive of the Bring Jobs Home Act. 

READ MORE | Day 1: Carrier workers go to Washington to be heard

Mr. Hoyer is also working on a Keep It In America campaign that will focus on issues like the one we're facing with Carrier.  They also are hopeful that the Democrats can take control of the House in the upcoming election so that some of these bills can get passed. 

But overall, we feel that we are being heard by our representatives. 

We are making them aware of who we are and our honest feelings about what we are going through.  And most have told us that they're glad we did come and express our thoughts and frustrations to them so that they truly get to hear it on a personal basis. 

Friday we will continue our lobbying to these leaders. We also will get to talk with our Senator Joe Donnelly. Mr. Donnelly has been a strong supporter of us so we're really looking forward to getting to meet with him and to talk about the Carrier situation. 

FULL CARRIER COVERAGE: TIMELINE: Carrier to ship 1,400 jobs from Indiana to Mexico |  Hogsett calls on Carrier to return $1.2M within 30 days Coats, Donnelly have 'disappointing' meeting with Carrier execs | IEDC responds to Sen. Donnelly's comments on Carrier |  Sen. Donnelly: Carrier never cited federal regulations as reason for move | Union president: 'We're not going away quietly' | Carrier employees protest move at statehouse| Pence on Carrier meeting: 'I don't want to create any false hope for people' Moving to Mexico: What you need to know about Monterrey, Mexico  | Moving to Mexico: On the ground in Monterrey, Mexico, where Carrier is moving  Trump weights in on Carrier relocation to Mexico  | Carrier: Company did not receive $5M in federal stimulus funds  | President of United Steelworkers Union: No hope of saving 1,400 jobs  | Carrier employees, local businesses reel after announcement of move to Mexico  | WATCH: Employees react to news that Carrier is moving from Indy to Mexico  | Pence to review Carrier's plans to move to Mexico  | TRUMP: Carrier should be taxed for their goods after move to Mexico  | Hogsett, Donnelly meet with Carrier workers  | City, state stepping in to help Carrier employees | Indiana leaders ask Carrier for a meeting to try to keep the plant, jobs in the state