In addition to the previously announced meeting held with Congressman Scott Peters (D-CA 52nd District), members of The Vision Council Leadership met separately last week with Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA 15th District) as a part of The Vision Council’s efforts to educate elected officials that represent its member companies and have jurisdiction over key federal and state issues of concern to the optical industry.

Congressman Swalwell toured the California Accessories facility in Hayward, CA, alongside the company’s President and CEO, and Vice Chair of The Vision Council’s Sunglass and Reader Division, Fredric Grethel. Grethel addressed the issue of the Port of Oakland with the Congressman, and the effects of those issues not only for the optical industry but also for all industries with products that enter the Port.

As was announced last week, Congressman Peters toured the Shamir Insight facility in San Diego, CA, alongside Shamir Insight’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of The Vision Council Board of Directors, Raanan Naftalovich. Congressman Peters expressed support for the optical industry and the jobs it generates within his district and throughout the state of California, and was interested in learning more about the business and manufacturing challenges faced by the optical industry within the state.

The Vision Council aims to establish an open dialogue with Members of Congress about the economic benefits its member companies bring to their Congressional districts. The meeting comes as a follow-up from meetings held in December between The Vision Council leadership and Members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
Both meetings included an overview of the optical manufacturing industry, meetings with each organization’s senior executives, and discussions regarding the challenges facing the optical industry.

California has been the focus of an increasing amount of time and resources from The Vision Council over the last year, including recent meetings with the Office of California Governor Jerry Brown regarding California Proposition 65, and the prevention of its unintended consequences for the optical manufacturing industry.