Over 200 New England Council members from throughout the region gathered in Washington, DC, for our 2026 Washington Leaders’ Conference on May 13 and 14. Over the course of the two-day conference, members had the opportunity to connect with key federal policymakers, Congressional staff, and prominent media figures.
The conference kicked off with a Welcome Luncheon at the historic Willard Intercontinental Hotel, where guests heard insights and observations on the political climate in Washington and the upcoming midterm elections from several respected political journalists: Andrew Desiderio of Punchbowl News, Lisa Kashinsky of Politico, and Jackie Kucinich of The Boston Globe. After a busy afternoon of committee meetings, guests reconvened for the Capitol Hill Reception in the Hart Senate Office Building overlooking the Capitol, where they had the opportunity to connect with many members of the region’s Congressional delegation, and network with dozens of Congressional staff. The second day of the conference began with a Congressional Breakfast where guests heard from two of the most senior members of the region’s Congressional delegation: Minority Whip Katherine Clark, and Rep. Richard Neal, Ranking Member of the influential House Ways & Means Committee. The conference wrapped up with additional committee meetings with key Congressional staff.
We are grateful to our 2026 Conference Sponsors for their generous support, and of course, to all the members who took part in the program!
view capitol hill reception photos
view congressional breakfast photos
