K Street Files: GOP in Vogue

Laying It on Thick. U.S. Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Thomas Donohue spent Tuesday lavishing praises on House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) during an event aimed at rallying Congress to advance trade with Cuba.

Pointing to issues ranging from trade agreements to health care to tax reform, Donohue reminded Rangel "how much the business community depends on you on a lot of issues that are going to come before the Congress this year."

Major bills aimed at triggering economic growth in the coming months are going to land "on your desk and we're going to benefit from your judgment," Donohue gushed. "I really appreciate being here with the chairman."

On trade, Donohue complimented Rangel's "extraordinary commitment to the Western hemisphere" and noted his participation in last month's Summit of the Americas.

Rangel organized the event to bring together Donohue and a group of bipartisan House lawmakers who favor legislation to ease restrictions on trade and travel to Cuba.

"For the benefit of both countries, it's time to turn the page. The embargo has failed, and it's time for a change," Donohue said.

Lawmakers at the event included Reps. Marion Berry (D-Ark.), Kevin Brady (R-Texas), Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).