Mayor Karen Bass and the delegation met with Secretary Denis McDonough, of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, during the trip to Washington, D.C. (photo courtesy of the city of Los Angeles)

Los Angeles Mayor Bass led a delegation of members of the Los Angeles City Council to Washington, D.C. from Oct. 16-19 to meet with top federal officials on ways to improve the city.

Traveling with Bass were Council President Paul Krekorian and Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez, Bob Blumenfield, Traci Park, Eunisses Hernandez and Heather Hutt. They met with senior members of the Biden administration and members of Congress.

“We are proving in just a few short months that by locking arms, we get things done,” Bass said. “The partnership with the federal government thus far has delivered progress for our city in our efforts to do everything from bringing unhoused Angelenos inside to improving our transportation system. This delegation continues that momentum. I thank my partners on the City Council for joining me on this trip to amplify the voice of Angelenos on the national scale. Together, we will continue to deliver change for Los Angeles.”

The delegation was scheduled to meet with Secretary Marcia Fudge, of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Acting Secretary Julie Su, of the U.S. Department of Labor; Secretary Denis McDonough, of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Tom Perez, White House director of intergovernmental affairs; Neera Tanden, White House director of the Domestic Policy Council; Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget; Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, United States Homeland Security advisor; and Christopher Coes, assistant secretary for policy for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Earlier this year, members of Congress secured more than $35 million in proposed fiscal year 2024 appropriation bills for Los Angeles at the request of Bass and the City Council. For information, visit mayor.lacity.gov.