Current Key Issues

DULLES REGIONAL CHAMBER

DRAFT POSITION PAPER

PUBLIC POLICY 2010

The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce is committed to serving as the advocate and “voice of business” on behalf of its 1,000 members on issues that impact businesses in the Dulles Region. The Chamber’s positions are based on the following principles that we believe are critical to continue the Dulles Region’s economic success and the quality of life our residents enjoy and businesses demand:

• It is imperative that federal, state and local laws, regulations and tax policy be considered in a way that recognizes the importance of maintaining a strong, pro-business environment that enhances the economic competitiveness for all businesses, cultivates growth in all segments of our economy, and protects the ability of businesses to create jobs and economic opportunity.
• Critical infrastructure investment must be maintained and expanded to meet our growing needs, particularly in the areas of workforce development, transportation, technology and energy.
• Through the power of partnerships and collaboration with other business organizations and like-minded groups, the Dulles Regional Chamber will advocate for the issues and policies that will protect the interests of America’s businesses against unnecessary government-imposed costs, regulations and interference.
• While the Chamber recognizes the importance of large- and mid-sized businesses, the Chamber believes that small businesses and sole proprietors are essential to the Dulles Region’s continued prosperity and must have access to the resources that are necessary for their success, including affordable healthcare and insurance, and technology infrastructure.
• The Dulles Region’s businesses contribute significantly to the tax base and to the quality of life of our community, while possessing renowned organizational and business acumen. For these reasons, the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce believes strongly that local business leaders should have the opportunity to work with government officials at the federal, state and local levels to help develop and implement legislative and regulatory policies that will impact the economic environment of our community.

The following outlines the Chamber’s specific public policy positions on the priority issues of its members.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Dulles Regional Chamber supports making the Dulles Region highly competitive in the global marketplace through aggressively promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses, and by creating an environment that is conducive to the formation and attraction of new ones, thus assuring the Region’s continued prosperity. The Chamber supports increased public and private economic development efforts focused on encouraging the growth of appropriate, quality businesses in the Region.

To foster successful economic development, the Chamber strongly recommends that adequate land areas be designated and carefully reserved to meet the long-term needs of future business development, including developing the full potential of transit station areas.  To this end, the Chamber supports the Dulles Region’s efforts to conduct outreach leading to strong visions and plans for its premier business corridors.  These plans should be used to implement and achieve the highest and best business growth.

Further, recent changes in the national and world economies are creating new opportunities for businesses to locate or expand in the Dulles Region, as well as for the Region to benefit from sizable corporate relocations.  The Chamber encourages the General Assembly to invest fully in the various business incentive programs, affordable housing, infrastructure funding for future growth, with a special emphasis on transportation thus encouraging dynamic and growing businesses to invest in the Dulles Region.. To help create an environment in which the Dulles Region can attract and retain top-quality companies, priority should be given to reviewing the qualification criteria for Virginia’s business incentive programs. Furthermore, the Chamber supports the continued funding of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) incentive programs and encourages the VEDP to develop state incentive programs that focus on company retention and recruitment.  The Chamber pledges to work with and support the VEDP on incentive programs that encourage higher paying jobs.

To ensure that the Dulles Region’s tremendous potential is not diminished, the Chamber opposes arbitrary efforts to limit or suspend growth.  The Chamber believes that elected officials must be mindful that excessive and inconsistent restrictions placed on new business development or expansion that do not contribute materially to improving the quality and effectiveness of that development send a negative signal to prospective businesses considering our County as a place to locate and grow.  The Chamber believes it is critical that commitments made in the course of any economic development negotiations always be fully honored by both government and the business.

We consider Affordable Housing to be a component of the total economic health of our Region.  We support a dedicated, sustainable local funding source towards Fairfax County’s efforts to assist those in need of affordable housing.

TOURISM AND BUSINESS TRAVEL

The Dulles Regional Chamber recognizes the quality of life and economic benefits that a thriving tourism destination contributes to the Dulles Region. The Chamber also strongly believes that visitors of all types – business, leisure and groups – should be encouraged to visit Loudoun and Fairfax and be greeted warmly by businesses and residents alike.

The Chamber also supports efforts to ensure regulations, taxes and zoning ordinances enable tourism to prosper and to distinguish our Region as a preferred destination.

REGULATORY REFORM

The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce supports legislative and regulatory policies that stimulate economic growth and incentivizes job creation by allowing businesses to fairly manage their personnel resources without undue government or outside intervention.  The Chamber strongly favors allowing free market conditions to determine important labor issues such as compensation and conditions of employment, while strongly advocating that all employers meet their legal and ethical obligations to their employees and the government. The Chamber opposes expanded government regulation of the workplace, including legislation that would limit an employer's right to operate during a strike.

The Chamber believes that government laws, regulations and policies should not unnecessarily restrict private property rights, and believes that private property owners should be justly compensated for any reductions in the value of their property caused by government actions.

Unfunded Mandates and Policies:  The Dulles Regional Chamber opposes the imposition of unfunded mandates or policy positions, particularly those that would require Virginia’s or Fairfax/Loudoun Counties’ businesses and other taxpayers to fund the long-term costs of these mandates.

Unionization and Right To Work Laws: The Dulles Regional Chamber opposes any local, state or federal laws or regulations that undermine Virginia’s Right To Work laws, which have played a historically significant role in the state’s nationally recognized economic and employment growth. We oppose the Employee Free Choice Act.

The Chamber opposes all federal legislative or regulatory proposals that undermine the rights of Virginia’s workers to secret ballot elections to decide whether to form a union.  The Chamber also opposes legislative or regulatory proposals to authorize federal government officials to impose workplace rules, such as wage levels and work hours, in the absence of an agreement between management and employees. The Chamber also opposes the imposition of additional sanctions, such as fines against businesses for violations during the union recognition process.

Minimum Wage: Because increases in the minimum wage fall disproportionately on small businesses, which are often the least able to absorb dramatic increases in labor costs, the Dulles Regional Chamber opposes increases in the minimum wage and believes that any increase must include provisions that lessen the cost and regulatory burden on Virginia’s small businesses.

Unemployment Compensation: The Dulles Regional Chamber supports Virginia's unemployment compensation laws, which provide adequate and temporary financial assistance to employees who become unemployed through no fault of their own.  The Chamber opposes the extension of benefits to workers who, through their own actions or inactions, become unemployed, including as a result of an employer-initiated lockout or an employee strike.

Workers’ Compensation:  The Dulles Regional Chamber opposes any changes to Virginia's workers' compensation law that would increase costs and regulatory burdens on businesses, or otherwise undermine the laws existing sound principles and purpose.

TAX AND REVENUE POLICY

The Dulles Regional Chamber strongly urges elected leaders to actively engage the Chamber and other business leaders in every stage of consideration and development of new tax and revenue policies that impact the business climate in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties.

At the local level, the Dulles Regional Chamber supports sound taxation policies that effectively balance the our Region’s ability to finance the vital government services and operations that businesses and residents require, with the need to maintain a strong, pro-business environment that enhances the Region’s economic competitiveness.

To serve this goal, the Chamber strongly supports a comprehensive taxation strategy that considers all available revenue options, and then implements the appropriate options, at the appropriate levels, to meet the Region’s resource needs.  This comprehensive taxation strategy must also be accompanied by a stringent, business-like analysis of all County programs and service levels, to effectively align the investment of limited business and residential taxpayer resources with government operations that serve the most vital interests of our two counties.

In addition, we urge that all tax policies be assessed against the potential impact on the Dulles Region’s economic competitiveness and quality of life, not just on the revenues that are anticipated. The Chamber opposes those tax policies, both existing and proposed, that will have a demonstrably adverse impact on net business and job growth.  Further, the Chamber is opposed to any capital facilities fee increases that will inflate the cost of housing to the point of creating a disincentive for businesses to locate in the Dulles Region.    The Chamber urges both Fairfax and Loudoun Counties to regularly and closely analyze the capital needs assessment to ensure that the programmed capital improvements (which are utilized in calculating capital facilities fees) bear a clear relationship to  Dulles Region’s goals to be business friendly.

At the state level, the  Dulles Regional Chamber supports the substantive reform of Virginia’s tax and revenue system to more closely align the source of the Commonwealth’s tax revenues with the spending priorities of state and local government. For the past decade, northern Virginia has experienced unparalleled economic prosperity, which has generated increasingly higher income tax revenues for the state government. Meanwhile, northern Virginia’s local governments have become increasingly dependent upon local property tax revenues to fund schools, public safety, human services and even transportation improvements. The Chamber believes high growth areas, such as the Dulles Region, should have greater access to the income tax revenue generated by its citizens to support the increased costs associated with that growth, such as building new schools and roads, and paying the salaries of teachers and public safety personnel.

The Chamber believes the state must invest in essential infrastructure that is critical to the economic health of the revenue-producing regions in Virginia in order to continue the success in these regions that benefits the entire Commonwealth. We specifically support rebate of a percentage of the state individual income tax back to the locality from which it was collected to help address this issue. The Chamber encourages business-friendly tax policy that considers policies in other states, to ensure Virginia businesses can remain competitive in national and international markets.  The Chamber encourages full consideration of the overall economic impact of a business or industry’s presence in Virginia prior to awarding or removing any business sales tax exemption, as well as before considering any other significant change to business tax policy.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

The Dulles Regional Chamber supports managed, thoughtful growth in the Dulles Region. This includes meaningful dialogue between Loudoun and Fairfax Counties, and between them and the Commonwealth, to provide support for well planned commercial growth and development that will bring additional resources to the Dulles Region to help address the infrastructure challenges we face. The Chamber supports use of public-private partnerships and other creative initiatives to encourage the availability of resources to invest in critical infrastructure, including schools, transportation, technology, parks and recreational facilities, and public safety, to meet the needs of today’s  businesses and residents.

Transportation: The Dulles Regional Chamber assigns top priority to securing new, sustainable regional and statewide transportation funding  To that end, restoring regional funding (without prejudice) and addressing the Commonwealth’s growing statewide maintenance deficit should be a major priority of the 2010 General Assembly session.  Responsibility for enacting new regional funding rests with the General Assembly, not local governments.

To better direct transportation allocations, the Chamber supports development of a performance-based statewide transportation plan focused on existing and new corridors of statewide and regional significance.  Such a plan should include a short list of strategic priorities deemed most essential to the Commonwealth’s long-term prosperity, safety, security and quality of life.

The Chamber supports continued reforms within the Virginia Department of Transportation and use of public private partnerships, but believes that such initiatives are no substitute for the new funding required to address the growing backlog of unfunded priorities.

At the local/regional level, the Dulles Regional Chamber supports construction of a comprehensive transportation grid. The Chamber urges the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority to be regional in its approach above all else, to establish regional priorities based upon performance-based criteria and to select Technical Advisory Committee members with strong professional credentials and regional perspectives.  The Chamber further urges the Authority to leverage and invest new local, regional and state revenues in regional solutions that move the most people in the most cost-effective manner. The Chamber supports use of debt financing at the state, regional and local levels, accompanied by a dedicated revenue source for debt service, as an important tool to invest in transportation infrastructure.

The Chamber also supports more efficient use of current transportation dollars, including a re-examination of the state transportation allocation formula to provide for more emphasis on population, vehicle miles of travel and other congestion standards that would net a more equitable distribution of money for our region. The Chamber opposes using revenue from the Transportation Trust Fund for non-transportation purposes.  The Chamber also endorses requiring the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund to be self-sustaining and supports efforts to prohibit transfer of construction funds from the Transportation Trust Fund to disguise maintenance funding deficiencies

In terms of specific projects, the Dulles Regional Chamber supports:

• Completion of the conversion of Route 28 into an eight-lane limited access freeway between I-66 and Route 7, including completion of projects on Route 28’s access roads;
• Restoration of the Western Transportation Corridor to the County’s Comprehensive Plan and completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Study;
• Upgrading the Route 606 and Route 50 corridors around Dulles Airport, completing a high capacity “Dulles Loop;”
• Expansion of Route 50, and improvements to the collector road network and interchanges in Dulles South area;
• Upgrading Route 7 to a limited access roadway between Leesburg and Tysons Corner, with an emphasis on the Route 7/Route 659 interchange;
• Identification of rights of way for and construction of additional Potomac River crossings;
• Acceleration, including identification of additional funding, for the completion of the Loudoun County Parkway and Tri-County Parkway along the County’s Comprehensive Plan alignment;
• Acceleration of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project to Washington Dulles International Airport and eastern Loudoun County and efforts to secure additional federal, state and private-sector funding for the project; and
• Multi-modal access to all the new Dulles Rail stations.

The Dulles Regional Chamber also supports consideration of graduated tolling and other options along the Dulles Greenway in order to determine if there can be increased utilization of that existing transportation corridor and reduced use of alternative, congested routes.

The Dulles Regional Chamber has long supported a sustainable revenue source for transit construction, operation and maintenance needs and urges that a portion of new regional revenues be dedicated for such purpose. We also support local transit to serve the major businesses and job centers in the County and the use of advanced technology and integrated communications, as well as teleworking, to help alleviate traffic congestion.

The Chamber acknowledges  the importance of efforts to conserve and ensure the efficient use of energy and fuels.  In addition, with regard to the environment, the Chamber believes the greatest reductions in greenhouse gases in the transportation sector will be achieved through the development of higher mileage and alternative fuel vehicles, and supports greater investments in these and other carbon dioxide reducing technologies.  The Chamber also supports more intense use of the land to leverage the value of transportation investments to the best extent possible and encourage walkable communities.

The Dulles Regional Chamber recognizes the economic and tourism value of Washington Dulles International Airport.  Therefore, the Chamber supports continued infrastructure investment at Washington Dulles International Airport, including the automated airport train system and new security area, construction of one additional runway, and expansion of concourses to provide additional aircraft gates and amenities.  Further, the Chamber strongly supports maintaining compatible land uses in the areas surrounding the airport.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce recognizes that reliable and affordable energy supply must keep pace with Northern Virginia’s growing population and economy.  In order to meet the energy needs of current and future citizens, the Chamber encourages the development of new energy sources and expansion of electricity generation and transmission.  Renewable energy, as well as increased energy conservation and efficiency, also should be included in the Commonwealth’s energy portfolio. We also seek a policy tht supports technology neutrality.

The Chamber supports initiatives that can reduce energy use while contributing to environmental goals outlined in the Virginia Energy Plan.  Such initiatives include new energy sources, alternative energy, green buildings and transit-oriented development.  Statewide policies can serve as cost-effective incentives for their implementation.

At the local level, the Chamber supports the goal of making Fairfax and Loudoun among the top green counties nationwide.   The Chamber strongly supports the development of a long-term, region-wide energy plan which focuses on energy generation, transmission and conservation.  The Chamber also supports “green” initiatives throughout the Region that are based on incentives and voluntary compliance.

TECHNOLOGY

The Dulles Regional Chamber recognizes the expanded role of technology as a critical enabler for economic development in northern Virginia.  The Dulles Region is home to unique resources that distinguish this area from other locations in a variety of technology fields, including biomedical research, satellite, information technology, broadband providers, and others.  Further, because of these unique characteristics and the rich resources already present here, the Region stands poised to become the preferred location for firms focused on the development and implementation of technologies which support and enhance business and residential green applications.  Therefore, the Chamber supports public policy initiatives that attract and sustain businesses that offer these services in the Dulles Region.  We also support policy that encourages the adoption of technologies that improve the management of our natural resources.

To encourage a vibrant information technology industry and the use of technology in all businesses in the Dulles Region, the Chamber supports the following specific public policy initiatives:

• Adoption of state legislation to enhance e-commerce;
• Adoption of state legislation to provide adequate deterrents and commensurate punishment for computer and Internet-related crimes in recognition of their detrimental impact on the use of technology in business;
• Development of technology programs at our colleges and universities to support our region as a global technology center and develop the talent pool necessary to sustain this vital economic engine here in the Dulles Region.

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE

K-12 Education: The Dulles Regional Chamber believes state and federal education funding should more appropriately reflect the full costs of all state and federal education mandates in addition to basic education costs. The Chamber advocates the reformulation of the state Education Funding Composite Index because it currently places Fairfax and Loudoun Counties’ Public Schools at a disadvantage and does not account for our region’s special needs caused by continued enrollment growth, increasing numbers of students for whom English is not spoken in the home, and the added financial burden of operating in the high cost metropolitan Washington, D.C., area, nor does it accurately reflect revenues local governments’ can access to pay for education. The Dulles Regional Chamber also supports legislation that requires an increase in state funding for the Standards of Quality by 3 percent per year until the local share of education costs does not exceed 65 percent and the state share is equal to 35 percent of total costs. In addition, the Chamber supports offering competitive compensation to attract and retain highly qualified teachers, as now required by federal law.

In addition to supporting efficient use of current resources by our region’s Public Schools, the Chamber also supports creative approaches to maximize and supplement traditional education funding.  The Chamber encourages continued and even greater use of school-business partnerships as a way for businesses to provide valuable resources of time, energy and funding to support the schools.

In recognition of the vital link between schools and the region's potential skilled workforce, the Chamber further supports:

• Strong business-education partnerships to develop training programs for specific industries;
• Educational assistance for current workers facing career advancement and/or transitions;
• Expanded skills development education in areas such as English-as-a-second-language, business and management;
• Further emphasis on development of students’ Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills in those areas which are the foundation of so many of today’s businesses and jobs and of those that will be created in the future; and
• Strong partnerships between the business community and all area institutions of higher education to support workforce needs.

Higher Education and Workforce Development: The Dulles Regional Chamber recognizes the importance of and supports all of the colleges and universities, both public and private, which provide high quality undergraduate, graduate and professional education to the Dulles Region’s residents.   The existing need for life-long education and training demands a higher education infrastructure that is accessible, both online and on campus, that is dynamically changing to meet the demands of the times and the diverse workforce, and that is supported by adequate state funding, loan guarantee programs and other financial means.  The Chamber supports positioning the Commonwealth’s public and private higher education institutions to play a full role in shaping job creation in a global knowledge-based economy. The Chamber calls on the Commonwealth’s elected leaders to reverse a decade of reduction in state funding for higher education that has shifted the burden of funding needed to students and families.

Any new state investment, however, must be targeted toward specific goals that will provide the best return on investment for every dollar spent, including:

• Awarding 70,000 more high quality degrees to Virginia residents over the next 10 years. Virginia’s economy needs more of its citizens prepared to take jobs in the diverse knowledge-based economy. Increasing the number of degrees awarded by 70,000 would mean that 50% of Virginia’s citizens would have an associate, bachelors or graduate degree.
• Targeting new degrees in high income, high demand job sectors. Virginia’s economy will depend on increasing the number of workers able to take on jobs in high demand fields of technology, engineering, science and math and in areas experiencing shortages like healthcare which is particularly important in the Dulles Region.
• Expanding job-specific training at community colleges.  The Chamber has long supported NVCC’s efforts in job-specific training and believes this unique resource should be expanded and enhanced via more consistent state funding.
• Increasing public-private collaboration for university-based research. Innovation drives the northern Virginia economy. Our businesses need an expanded way to interact with the area’s higher education institutions to produce and commercialize original research. The Commonwealth remains one of the few states that do not have dedicated funding for technology transfer.  University-based research can only be brought to market quickly if the Commonwealth supports it.
• Making colleges affordable for low- and middle-income students and families.  The Dulles Region enjoys a diverse citizen base. The Commonwealth and our higher education institutions must do more to encourage a greater number of students to seek education beyond high school. The cost of education should not be a barrier to getting a degree. Financial aid is a key ingredient in this affordability challenge.  Without increases in state-funded financial aid, access and affordability remain a problem.

With regard to our publicly funded institutions, the Chamber is very concerned that the current economic downturn will result in budget balancing action that would undermine the Commonwealth’s ability to provide adequate per pupil state funding for George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College. For the last decade, we have already seen the Commonwealth’s real dollar investment in higher education decline.  This long-standing funding inequity limits the ability of both institutions to meet the education and workforce development needs of the Commonwealth and our region. Should the Governor and the General Assembly reduce operational funding for either institution, the Chamber opposes any action to cap tuition increases as that will only exacerbate the reduction in funding. In addition, it could also force the institutions to take actions such as limiting class offerings and relying more on tuition from out-of-state-students, which would result in less space for in-state students at our Virginia schools. The Chamber believes that each institution must be provided the flexibility to address any fiscal shortages by balancing the needs of mission-critical activities against student affordability. The Chamber continues to support an increase in Tuition Assistance Grants to $3,500 for both undergraduate and graduate students, and notes that the need for a Cost of Living (COLA) adjustment for college and university employees has not been fully addressed.

The Chamber supported the creation of the 21^st Century Capital Improvement Program to systemically address the programming and financing of capital projects for higher education and state agencies.  The current economic downturn has seen a significant loss of jobs in the Commonwealth’s construction sector. The Chamber asks the Governor and General Assembly to carefully consider maintaining funding for scheduled capital improvements at our higher education institutions.  Private-sector firms are providing very competitive pricing which allows funding to stretch further, creating an environment that can advance needed capital projects and reduce the loss of jobs in an important job sector. The Chamber believes this competitive pricing can help advance new, and much-needed, facilities for George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College.  With more and more local students opting to stay close to home for financial reasons and with increasing numbers of displaced workers seeking retraining for second careers, both institutions must be able to keep pace with the steady increase in local demand for their services.  Over time, this will also necessitate a gradual ramping-up of local capital commitments which significantly leverage Commonwealth construction dollars.

Workforce Housing

The Dulles Regional Chamber supports state and local policies, as well as private-sector initiatives, directed at increasing the availability of a wide range of housing options to meet the needs of the Dulles Region's growing population and workforce.  The Chamber believes the lack of housing options for all ranges of household income is an impediment to sustaining a sound economy.  The Chamber supports regional programs to ensure that all localities adopt inclusionary housing policies and programs, and provide housing opportunities near centers of employment and commercial services.  The Chamber believes federal, state, and local programs supporting workforce housing should be utilized and leveraged to the maximum extent practical.  These programs should afford housing-related opportunities to a broad range of businesses, occupations and sectors of employment.

At the local level, the Chamber supports the investigation and potential implementation of creative solutions that will increase the availability of affordable housing alternatives for our workforce, especially for professionals in the healthcare, public safety, government and service industries, including a dedicated, sustainable local funding source for Fairfax and Loudoun Counties’ workforce housing.  Examples of potential solutions within Fairfax County include:

• Continuing support for the conclusions and recommendations of the Housing Advisory Board, including efforts to secure a single housing trust fund and leverage this fund to provide the highest possible impact;
• Promoting the use of County-owned land and/or assets to be used or exchanged for the creation of affordable housing units;
• Improvements to the County Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance that would provide a higher number of overall units available for sale;
• Reselling revitalized foreclosed properties through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to the workforce;
• Use of property tax credits, down payment programs, low interest loans, an expedited approval process, and other programs at the county level to increase home ownership to low-income households;
• Use of the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to investigate alternative project solutions, attract nonprofit developers, provide financing alternatives for potential projects, and potentially act as a housing authority;
• Alignment of local area policies as incentives to landlords to keep rental housing available to the workforce;
• Encouragement of our major employers to adopt housing assistance programs; and
• Support of market-driven green building incentives in response to growing demand for green homes and building practices.

IMMIGRATION

Immigrants have played a key role in the prosperity and growth of northern Virginia, filling key jobs in every sector of our economy and contributing to the rich cultural and intellectual experience that characterizes our region. Businesses increasingly depend on foreign workers to fill jobs to remain competitive and to grow to meet future demands for products and services.

The Chamber supports efforts by the federal government to strengthen national security by providing thorough screening of foreign workers and creating strong disincentives for illegal immigration. The Chamber also advocates that all businesses strictly comply with state and federal labor laws regarding the screening of citizenship documentation provided by employees, to avoid the hiring of individuals who are not lawfully residing in the U.S.

The Chamber, however, opposes increased penalties on employers who unknowingly hire undocumented aliens until a consistent, reliable process for worker verification systems is established.  The Chamber advocates that any such worker verification system not unduly burden employers, be properly funded, and have a high data integrity confidence factor.

The Chamber supports comprehensive immigration reform that, along with border security measures, will:

• Ensure an adequate supply of workers to support businesses in this region, including a limited guest worker program to fill gaps in our workforce;
• Continue and expand H-1B, L-1, and EB visas for professionals and highly skilled workers, and H-2B temporary visas that support seasonal industries and small businesses;
• Consider policies to require undocumented workers already contributing to the economy, provided that they are law-abiding and prepared to embrace the obligations and values of our society , to meet specific conditions and obligations in order to earn the legal right to remain in the U.S.; and
• Address delays, backlogs, and disruptions in our immigration and border management systems that impede the movement of legitimate cargo and travelers across U.S. borders.

HEALTHCARE

The Chamber supports collaborative efforts between healthcare stakeholders, including providers, purchasers, insurers and consumers, to ensure continued innovation and creativity in the private marketplace. The goals of these efforts should include the following:

• Expand healthcare infrastructure (both inpatient and outpatient);
• Manage healthcare costs impacting businesses;
• Increase accessibility of healthcare and insurance;
• Diminish complexity in healthcare;
• Enhance choice;
• Plan appropriately for emergency preparedness and foster public-private partnerships to address pandemic preparedness; and
• Expand services offered by safety net healthcare providers, such as the Herndon Free Clinic, so all residents have access to healthcare.
• Address medical malpractice reform;
• Grant portability of healthcare insurance across state lines;
• Endorse cooperative pooling of insurance options for business to enhance affordability.

On the federal level, the Chamber agrees that healthcare reform is needed; however, urges careful consideration of the impact of any policy change in this arena on the business community.  We support initiatives to improve quality and lower costs, fair regulation of the insurance market, efforts to build a robust marketplace for consumers, expansion of coverage for the uninsured, healthcare IT, an emphasis on prevention and wellness, and pay-for-performance.

The Chamber specifically supports legislation that ensures access to group health insurance for all businesses, including sole proprietors and businesses with few employees. The Chamber supports legislation that reduces state burdens and provides tax incentives to help small businesses offset the staggering increases in health insurance costs, including incentives that encourage participation in “consumer-driven” healthcare plans.  These plans not only can increase the number of catastrophically insured, but also put the individual end-users back in control of economic decisions between themselves and their service providers.

The Chamber opposes any legislation that threatens consumer access to healthcare coverage or contributes to increased health insurance costs for employers and their employees.