State Rep. Garland Pierce, left, is pictured with fellow panelist Charlotte City Councilman Greg Phipps at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington.

RALEIGH — State Rep. Garland Pierce was in the nation’s capital this week to take part in a roundtable discussion with White House and congressional officials at the George Washington University Law School.

Pierce, D-Scotland, is chairman of the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus and represents Richmond, Scotland, Robeson and Hoke counties in House District 48. The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies’ 2015 Legislative Leadership Roundtable ran Thursday and Friday.

During this invitation-only event, Pierce took part in discussions on energy workforce, tech entrepreneurship and high-speed Internet access, policing and sentencing and the challenges of the unbanked (e.g., payday lending, check cashing fees) with congressional leadership, White House officials, nonprofit policy experts, professors and private-sector experts.

“I am honored to be one of 30 state and city legislative elected officials across the country to participate,” Pierce said in a statement. “I am looking forward to a healthy discussion and to bring the information and outcomes back to North Carolina.”

Pierce will also attend a White House briefing on public engagement and intergovernmental affairs to discuss administrative priorities and a welcome event on Capitol Hill with members of Congress, honorary hosts and the chairs of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Asian-Pacific American Caucus will serve as honorary chairs.

The Joint Center’s Leadership Roundtable is comprised of 30 state and city legislative elected officials of color.