A delegation from Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA) met with Vice President Dick Cheney and other key legislators on May 23 and 24 to raise awareness of industry issues and to request legislative backing for three major grants.

The trip began with a meeting with the vice president to discuss the Bush Administration’s energy policy and its effect on the jewelry industry. The MJSA delegation, led by James F. Marquart, MJSA president/CEO, and Thomas J. Rossi, MJSA general manager, also met with key legislators about controlling conflict diamond imports, seeking a reasonable minimum wage increase, advocating for the repeal of the estate tax, and supporting China’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

In addition, the government affairs trip resulted in legislators’ writing letters of support for MJSA to receive nearly $1.9 million in grant monies to fund programs in workforce development and export assistance.