Kate Walsh lands at ‘post-apocalyptic’ Dulles to lobby lawmakers

Lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill can make for some treacherous terrain — but for Kate Walsh, making a push before members of Congress came at the same time Washington was trying to push the remnants of a massive blizzard out of the way. 

“Ted [Danson] and I flew in on the same flight,” the “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice” actress said with a laugh, “We came to what seemed to be a post-apocalyptic airport at Dulles on Monday afternoon.” 

{mosads}She said while she had no trouble touching down in the D.C. area, “It was pretty empty.” 

But mounds of snow wouldn’t stop Walsh, 48, from trekking to Capitol Hill with the advocacy group Oceana to make her pitch against offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean. 

“We’re lobbying to get the Atlantic out of the plan, the president and the administration’s plan, for drilling for oil. We’re trying to get that and seismic testing off the table,” said Walsh. 

“It’s a cause that’s near and dear to my heart, not just being a fan of a clean ocean, but just also protecting people’s economic well-being, and for generations to come,” she added. 

After meetings on the Hill with lawmakers, including Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Walsh made it to the Interior Department and the White House this week for some face-to-face time with officials.

But the weather — which blanketed the Washington area with nearly three feet of snow in some parts — did put a slight snafu in her plans. “I had meetings with [Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)] and others that we had to cancel because they couldn’t get back in.” 

The Arizona native was able to join Oceana board members, “Cheers” star Danson and Sam Waterston of “Law & Order” at a summit earlier this week in the District to promote the group’s work. 

Walsh, whose brother is a commercial fisherman, says she wasn’t about to let nature’s fury, or get in the way of her efforts. “You can’t predict the weather,” she exclaimed.  

And as far as the current fractious climate in Congress, Walsh said, “Whatever’s happening in Congress is happening in Congress, but the people are speaking and I think they’re demanding to be heard. So hopefully this administration will listen and do the right thing.”