
Washington D.C. Fly-In
June 9-11, 2025
Purpose: To engage with national officials and leadership on current issues, and to advocate for policies beneficial to our businesses, community and state.
Important Contact Information
Matt Meadors, mmeadors@wacochamber.com, 254-716-0710
Jacob Hogan, jhogan@wacochamber.com, 817-528-1079
Agenda & Resources
6 PM – 8 PM
Group Dinner at The Yardbird – 901 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
                                                      Attire: Business Casual
Transportation is on your own throughout this day. Dinner is a three-minute walk from the hotel.
8:30 AM Group Transportation Departs The Westin Hotel – Downtown DC
9 AM – 10:30 AM U.S. Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Briefing – Capitol Hill Club
300 First St., SE, 20003
11 AM – 12 PM Briefing at the Embassy of Mexico - 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
Bring your U.S. federal ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.).
12 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch at Founding Farmer’s - 1924 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
2 PM – 5 PM Congressional Leadership Briefing – 200 HVC in U.S. Capitol Visitors Center – First St., SE, 20515
Enter through the Capitol Visitors Center South Entrance Doors.
5:15 PM Group Picture on U.S. Capitol East Steps
6 PM – 8:00 PM Group Dinner with Congressman Sessions
Truluck’s – 700 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Attire will be Business Professional throughout this day.
Transportation will be provided throughout this day. The arranged transportation will depart from The Westin at 8:30 a.m. and will be utilized throughout the entirety of the day.
Â
9 AM – 1 PM Congressional and Committee Team Meetings
Attire: Business Professional
Since we will be divided into groups throughout the first half of the day for our Congressional and Committee meetings, transportation and lunch are on your own.
- Closest Metro Station to U.S. House Office Buildings: Capitol South
- Closest Metro Station to U.S. Senate Office Buildings: Union Station
2:15 PM - Group Transportation Departs The Westin Hotel - Downtown DC
3 PM - Briefing at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany - 4645 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007
Please arrive by 2:40 p.m. to allow plenty of time to clear security and bring your U.S. federal ID.
Attire: Business Professional  Â
Places
Speaker Bios
In 2014, Texans overwhelmingly re-elected Senator John Cornyn to represent them for a third term in the U.S. Senate. Since he was first elected in 2002, Cornyn has earned a national reputation as an articulate and powerful voice for Texas and conservative values in Washington. Cornyn, a San Antonio native, strongly believes that more Texas solutions are needed in Washington.
He has committed himself to strengthening our national defense, securing our borders, repairing our broken immigration system and strengthening the economy by keeping taxes low, reducing federal spending, and fighting job-killing regulations from Washington bureaucrats. Cornyn has also been an advocate for Texas military personnel, veterans and their families, and he has fought to provide these Americans with the best possible support, care and benefits.
In addition to serving on the Senate Finance, Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, Cornyn served in the 114th and 115th Congress as the Majority Whip, a position giving Texas a powerful seat at Congress’ leadership table.
Cornyn has served the people of Texas for the last three decades, first as a district judge and later as a member of the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Attorney General.
In 2012, Ted Cruz was elected as the 34th U.S. Senator from Texas. A passionate fighter for limited government, economic growth and the Constitution, Cruz won a decisive victory in both the Republican primary and the general election, despite having never before been elected to office.
In the Senate, Cruz serves on the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; the Committee on Foreign Relations; the Committee on the Judiciary; the Joint Economic Committee; and the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Before being elected, Cruz received national acclaim as the Solicitor General of Texas, the State’s chief lawyer before the U.S. Supreme Court. Serving under Attorney General Greg Abbott, Cruz was the nation’s youngest Solicitor General, the longest serving Solicitor General in Texas, and the first Hispanic Solicitor General of Texas.
Serving his tenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Henry Cuellar proudly represents Texas’ 28th congressional district, which includes the cities of Laredo, Rio Grande City, and San Antonio. Congressman Cuellar supports equal opportunity for men and women of all backgrounds. His legislative principles are based on the belief that education, family values and hard work should open doors to new opportunities for all Americans. Congressman Cuellar serves as the only Texas Democrat on the powerful U.S. House Appropriations Committee. He is the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, while also serving on the Defense Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. Congressman Cuellar was named Chief Deputy Whip for the 118th Congress, where he works in a bipartisan manner to serve the American people. As one of eight children born to migrant farm workers in Laredo, Texas, Congressman Cuellar was raised with a passion for education and an unwavering work ethic, as he sought to attain his educational goals. As the most degreed member of Congress, he credits his education with informing his public service to Texas. After earning his associate degree from Laredo Community College Summa Cum Laude, he enrolled in Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Here, while working part-time jobs to accord his graduate degree, the Congressman still managed to graduate Cum Laude, a reflection to his academic commitment. When he returned to Texas, Congressman Cuellar completed a master’s degree in International Trade at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) and earned both a Juris Doctor and Ph.D. in Government from the University of Texas at Austin. Recently, Dr. Cuellar received a Professional Certificate in Budget and Finance from Georgetown University. In 1981, Congressman Cuellar started practicing law and later became a licensed customs broker in 1983 and taught at Laredo State University (TAMIU) as an Adjunct Professor for International Commercial Law from 1984 to 1986. The following year, Congressman Cuellar decided to fully dedicate his life to public service and served as a Texas State Representative, Texas Secretary of State and now as a U.S. Congressman. Dr. Cuellar has been an educator, lawyer and small business owner. Congressman Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, reside in Laredo, Texas with their two daughters, Christy and Catie.
Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne proudly represents the 24th Congressional District of Texas, which includes portions of Dallas and Tarrant counties. Cities that are wholly, or partially included in the 24th District include: Addison, Bedford, Carrollton, Colleyville, Coppell, Dallas, Euless, Farmers Branch, Flower Mound, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Haltom City, Hurst, Irving, Keller, Lewisville, North Richland Hills, Richardson, Roanoke, Southlake, Trophy Club, Watauga, and Westlake. The DFW International Airport, of which Beth is a former board member, is centrally located in the heart of the district.
Assigned to the Ways and Means Subcommittees on Taxation, Trade, Oversight, and Work and Welfare, Beth is focused on delivering solutions to help individuals keep more of what they earn, businesses to expand operations and compete in globally competitive markets, and hold Administration policies and management accountable for actions which are detrimental to U.S. economic expansion or growing prosperity for our families. As a Texan, Beth is particularly interested in fostering policies that will empower our country with an abundant, affordable, and reliable energy supply to lower costs for families and deliver the power needed for our nation to enjoy an expansion of U.S.-based manufacturing.
In the 118th Congress, Beth was chosen to serve as Chair of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight, where she concentrated on policies to encourage workforce development and labor participation and conducted rigorous oversight of the Biden-Harris Administration, including its failure to recover tens of billions of dollars in stolen pandemic relief funds. Now, in the 119th Congress, Beth serves as Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access
Prior to being elected to Congress, Beth served as Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Mayor of Irving, Irving City Council Member, and a businesswoman. In 2017, Beth was appointed to serve as the Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Southwest Region. Working under Secretary Ben Carson, Beth was tasked with overseeing HUD programs and operations in the Region’s five states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, where she worked on many of the Trump Administration’s proudest economic successes, such as opportunity zones, and led HUD’s disaster recovery efforts at the southwest border in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
Before being named Administrator, Beth was the first woman elected to serve as the Mayor of Irving from 2011 to 2017 after beginning her career in public service as an Irving City Council Representative from 2004 to 2010. Under her leadership, the City of Irving witnessed unprecedented economic growth and development with an added 40,000 jobs and an estimated $3 billion in growth and new developments while also being named the fifth safest city in America.
Throughout Beth’s career, she has worked with small startup companies, mid-size private companies and Fortune 500 corporations alike. Beth also ran a consulting business where she helped executives develop strategic business plans as well as negotiation strategies, grassroots coalition building and federal and state legislative policy strategies.
After graduating magna cum laude from Cornell University, Beth moved back to Irving, Texas, which has been her home for over 30 years. Proud mother to Katie and Pearce, Beth was only the second Republican woman from Texas to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Congressman Craig Goldman is serving his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Texas’ 12th Congressional District, which includes parts of Tarrant and Parker Counties. In Congress, he serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
A fifth-generation Texan and fourth-generation Fort Worth native, Craig is proud of his Texas roots and devoted to public service. As a proven conservative, he is dedicated to championing common-sense policy solutions both at home in Texas and in Washington, D.C. His focus on implementing policies to secure the border, reduce taxes, and strengthen national defense reflects his stalwart commitment to policies that promote freedom and prosperity for Texans.
Previously, Craig served twelve years in the Texas House of Representatives, representing part of Tarrant County, where he held several leadership positions, including Chairman of the House Committee on Energy Resources and the Chairman of the House Republican Caucus.
Before entering public office, Craig spent nearly a decade working alongside his father at their family-run gourmet food and wine store in Fort Worth. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin.
Wesley Hunt was born and raised in Houston, TX, in a military family and is a proud St. John's School alumnus. Upon graduation from St. John's, Wesley accepted an appointment at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
In 2004, he graduated from West Point and spent eight years in the Army as an Apache helicopter pilot.
Wesley's service included one deployment to Iraq, where he flew 55 combat air missions, and two deployments to Saudi Arabia as a Diplomatic Liaison Officer.
Upon completion of his military service as a Captain, Wesley attended Cornell University and earned a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), and a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations (M.I.L.R.).
Wesley has served as a U.S. Congressman since 2023 and sits on the House Natural Resources and Judiciary Committees.
In addition to his military and Congressional service, President Trump appointed Wesley to the United States Military Academy Board of Visitors in 2025.
Wesley is a lifelong conservative and an active community member who has dedicated his time to military service and volunteer work to protect our country and improve the Houston area.
He and his wife Emily have three children, Victoria, Olivia, and Willie Parish Hunt II.
Tim Monahan leverages over 15 years of extensive experience within the U.S. House of Representatives. With a comprehensive background in strategic planning, crisis communication, coalition building, and workforce management, Tim has consistently helped achieve legislative and institutional milestones throughout his career.
Before joining the U.S. Chamber, Tim held Senior Advisor positions under both Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Speaker Mike Johnson. Prior to joining the Speaker’s operation, Monahan served as Staff Director for the Committee on House Administration and Professional Staff on the Appropriations Committee, as well serving in the Chief Administrative Officer's office. His versatile skill set has established him as a trusted resource for numerous Members of Congress and Congressional Committees.
During his tenure on Capitol Hill, Tim assumed responsibility for overseeing the operations of the Legislative Branch, including Capitol security, the Library of Congress, the United States Copyright Office, and the Capitol Visitor Center, among other entities. He played a key role in crafting and shepherding numerous appropriations bills, election integrity measures, and Congressional reform initiatives. Tim also spearheaded the onboarding and orientation programs for all freshman members of Congress during the 116th, 117th, and 118th Congresses. Additionally, he coordinated major events such as Presidential Inaugurations, State of the Union addresses, Congressional Gold Medal ceremonies, and lying in States.
Rep. Chip Roy is a devoted husband and father of two currently serving his fourth term in Congress representing Texas's 21st Congressional District — which includes South Austin, North San Antonio, and the Texas Hill Country.
Previously, Rep. Roy served as First Assistant Attorney General of Texas under Ken Paxton, Chief of Staff to Sen. Ted Cruz, senior advisor to Texas Governor Rick Perry, Senate Judiciary Committee staff director under Sen. John Cornyn, and as a federal prosecutor. Prior to the public sector, he worked for nearly three years as an investment banking analyst.
Rep. Roy holds a B.S. and M.A. from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from the University of Texas. He serves on the House Judiciary, Rules, and Budget Committees and is the Policy Chair of the House Freedom Caucus.
Francisco Sandoval-Saqui joined the Embassy of Mexico’s Economic Affairs Section as an International Economics Advisor in October 2022, focusing on trade and foreign direct investment. Francisco has had an extensive career as an international trade specialist within the Mexican government. From 2001 to 2019, he held various positions in the Trade and NAFTA Office of Mexico’s Ministry of the Economy at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, DC. In 2016, he was promoted to Senior Advisor for Trade Negotiations for the United States – Mexico – Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Washington, DC, where he advised the negotiating team on the economic and trade effects of different potential outcomes of the negotiations on the Mexican economy and strategic industries such as automotive, energy, and services. He participated in the negotiating teams for the Energy, Digital Economy, Cross-Border Trade in Services, and Non-Conforming Measures chapters of the USMCA. Additionally, he served as a liaison to US stakeholders in Congress, the private sector, academia, and the public, conducting outreach regarding the benefits of the trade agreement, the US–Mexico trade relationship, and promoting foreign direct investment. From 1996 to 2001, he was a Statistics and Economic Analyst at Mexico’s Under Secretary for International Trade Negotiations.
Francisco earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL) in Monterrey, Mexico, and a master’s degree in economics from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in Mexico City, specializing in international trade, industrial organization, and regulatory economy. He also volunteers with the Human Rescue Alliance, where he cares for rescue dogs waiting to be adopted.
U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions has combined hard work, innovative thinking and common-sense principles to represent the 17th Congressional District of Texas.
After graduating from Southwestern University in 1978, Sessions worked for then-Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for 16 years, retiring as District Manager for Marketing in Dallas. As a businessman, he served as Chairman of the Northeast Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
In 1996, the people of Dallas and the 5th Congressional District sent Congressman Sessions to Washington, D.C. to represent them in the United States House of Representatives. In 2002, Sessions began representing the 32nd Congressional District, created from redistricting. In 2020, the people of the 17th Congressional District called him back to Congress for his 12th term.
Sessions is a stalwart defender of U.S. homeland and national security interests, as well as the men and women who defend them. As the parent of a child with Down syndrome, he is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities. Sessions also believes that taxpayers deserve results from their government, and he has pursued common-sense, market-based reforms to help government operate more efficiently.
Sessions pursues his goals on these and other issues through his work on various Congressional committees and caucuses. He serves as the Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Rules. In 2008 and 2010, he was elected by the House Republican Conference as Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Delegation
Ryan Adams, Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network
Ashley Allison, Waco Foundation
Council Member Andrea Barefield, City of Waco
Jessica Attas, Prosper Waco
Korey Boen, Boen Plumbing
Jennifer Boen, STV
Glenn Coward, Capability Source
Leah Cox, Kelly, Realtors
Russell Cox, Kelly, Realtors
Alicia Cruz, Texas State Technical College
Kacey Darnell, Texas State Technical College
Amy Davenport, Baylor University
Nathan Embry, Kelly, Realtors
Bradley Ford, City of Waco
Frank Graves, McLennan Community College
Jana Hixson, Community Bank & Trust
Jacob Hogan, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce
Mayor Jim Holmes, City of Waco
Allysan Jimenez, Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Ryan Holt, City of Waco
Kelly Hyten, Ascension Texas
John Kinnaird, MCAD
Blu Kostelich, City of Waco
Bryan LeMeilleur, City of McGregor
Council Member Isabel Lozano, City of Waco
Matt Meadors, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce
Kim Meadors, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce
Ashley Nystrom, City of Waco
Philip Patterson, Ascension Providence
Stephanie Peters, Cargill
Will Phipps, Cromwell Commercial Group
Monica Sedelmeier, City of Waco
Andrew Smith, McGregor Economic Development Corp.
Rick Tullis, Cupar Creek LLC.
Jeremy Vickers, Baylor University