(INDIANAPOLIS) -- When Congress returns from a summer hiatus and enters the pivotal home stretch before elections, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce will be there with its annual Washington D.C. Fly-in event on September 19 and 20. The organization is encouraging business leaders from throughout the state to join them.

Attendees will have the opportunity to dine and speak with the Indiana congressional delegation during a panel discussion and dinner. The next morning, the chief lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Bruce Josten, will serve as the keynote speaker at the breakfast gathering. Hoosier leaders will then visit several Indiana congressional offices to discuss key issues.

Cam Carter, the Indiana Chamber's vice president of economic development and federal affairs, urges a large Hoosier contingent to attend as a number of important tax rates are set to expire in 2013.

"The discussion of whether or not to extend the current tax rates or to let them expire for those who make $250,000 or more per year is very important to Indiana's small business community. Many business owners and operators, job creators, file taxes as individuals; they will take a real hit if this isn't favourably resolved," Carter offers. "And, this is just one of dozens of tax issues waiting to be resolved by Congress before year's end."

The registration fee for this event is $149. Organizations sending three or more employees receive the discounted rate of $99 per person. Hotel and air fare accommodations are not included in the price. However, a discounted Indiana Chamber rate is available at The Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia hotel.

The D.C. Fly-in is sponsored by Duke Energy, Purdue University, St. Vincent Health and Zimmer Inc. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Jim Wagner at (317) 264-6876.

To register to attend, visit http://www.indianachamber.com/specialevents or call (317) 264-6885 or (800) 824-6885.

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The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is the state's largest broad-based business advocacy and information organization, representing nearly 5,000 member companies that employ 800,000 Hoosier workers.