Vrae Start looking for a local politician you can trust no reason a good one wont understand and help.
Did you know you can start a US White House petition andif you get 25,000 in 30 days it will be discussed, I tried for you guys in 2011 but only around 800 signed. With your local and national knowledge especialy the press it really shouldn't be that hard. Will try and find the old one later for you.
One thing you can do is talk to locals make people aware before you start get as many people as you can to agrre to sign and spread the word before youlaunch it.