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U.S. Reps. Lori Trahan and Seth Moulton address the business crowd in Andover. (WHAV News photograph.)
The Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee held a Congressional Breakfast Forum in Andover on Monday. The group’s president, Haverhill City Councilor Joseph J. Bevilacqua introduced the featured speakers for the event, 6th District Congressman Seth Moulton and 3rd District Congresswoman Lori Trahan.
The two spoke about issues that they believe effect local businesses. Rep. Trahan brought up the need for congress to encourage and protect citizens retirement savings.
“We do have a retirement savings problem in this country. Baby boomers are retiring, 10,000 a day. Forty-five percent of them have no savings, and this is going to persist. Our country is not a savings culture,” she said.
Trahan cited a bill she co-introduced called the Secure Act which she says would create 700,000 new retirement savers by expanding access to workplace retirement plans. She also said the bill focuses on helping the 27 million Americans that work only part-time.
The congresswoman also addressed the divisiveness that seems so prevalent in Washington these days, saying that although there is certainly bipartisanship, she thinks that there is hope for improved relations.
“You know, more than 50 percent of the bills that I’ve introduced in this congress have been bipartisan. I’ve had a Republican co-lead and that doesn’t ever get reported, but I work with Republicans every day and I do see a path to us working together,” Trahan said.
She said when you get beyond the party bosses and the White House, the rank and file do want to get things done.
Trahan and Moulton also touched on subjects such as stronger restrictions on dumping sewage in our waterways, healthcare for everyone and climate change.