Laura Snow was in the House gallery and watched as Utah’s congressmen, both Democrat and Republican, spoke on behalf of the U Tuesday.
Special Assistant to President Snow sat next to U lobbyist Nancy Lyon when the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill providing up to $15 million to construct a new Utah Museum of Natural History at the U.
When the bill was approved, Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, looked up at the U officials and smiled, Snow said.
The two women were in Washington D.C., along with U President Bernie Machen and Kim Wirthlin, assistant to the vice president, to meet with Utah’s congressional delegation and discuss the needs of the U.
“It was great to be there on the day the House voted for the museum money,” Lyon said.
While at the capital, U officials were able to meet with all but one of Utah’s congressmen. Because of scheduling conflicts, they were unable to meet with Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah. They returned to Utah Wednesday.
“It is very insightful to see the relationship Machen has with the congressmen and the mutual respect they have for each other,” Snow said.
Lyon explained the congressional meetings were “very important,” especially because Utah’s delegation is relatively small.
“We are the flagship institution of the state, and we need to have our needs recognized by the state and national representatives,” Lyon said.
Lyon said the main projects discussed with the congressmen were funding for the museum and also the funding for a light-rail extension that would continue past Rice-Eccles Stadium up to University Hospital.
“It was really nice to see such a high level of support and interest in the U from the congressmen,” Snow said. She said the congressmen showed a level of support not found when meeting with most state legislators.
U administrators usually fly to Washington, D.C., two times a year. They were scheduled to do so Sept. 16, 2001, but after the terrorist attacks, they were unable to reschedule the visit, Lyon said.
The U has a paid lobbying firm in Washington, D.C., “but it is important to have personal contacts with the congressmen?especially important for the president,” Lyon said.
“It is also good to hear [the congressmen] recognize the good things were are doing here at the U,” Snow said. “Nearly all of them had such great compliments and things they had heard about the U.”