On December 18, SACOG Past Board Chair Tom Cosgrove attended a meeting in Washington, D.C. with Congressman Dan Lungren and Army Corps of Engineers Secretary John Paul Woodley to discuss SACOG's request for funds to enhance efficiencies for the region's Habitat Conservation Plans and Corps processes in general.
Woodley assured the Congressman and Cosgrove that they shared the same goal and that efforts were underway to secure funding and formalize a scope of work. Talks between SACOG and Corps officials to establish a scope of work are underway. Should funding be granted, a potential visit to the region by Secretary Woodley and his staff will be planned.
Executive Director Mike McKeever and SACOG consultant Stacey McKinley also recently met with officials from the Congressional Research Service and the Library of Congress for policy and data support related to RUCS implementation.
The GIS arm of the Library of Congress maintains a robust library of data and is able to procure data files from public and private sources. Congressional Resource Services works exclusively to support Members of Congress in establishing policy via the use of the most current data and thorough research. Congressman Lungren arranged for the assistance of both institutions for SACOG.