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President's Message
 There is just one full week left in the 2016 General Assembly session, which will adjourn sine die next Saturday, March 12th. Budget conferees are working to address differences in the House and Senate budgets and must complete their work by midnight on Saturday, March 5th. Below, you'll find a list of items that we submitted to the conferees earlier this week, including several that we support, and one that we oppose. Committees are required to complete work on legislation by Monday at midnight. We'll be monitoring a number of bills and the budget process closely as session comes to a close over the next week and will provide you with an update on the results.
We are pleased to announce that Tom Kuhn, President of Edison Electric Institute has been announced as the keynote speaker for our 2016 Energy, Sustainability and Resiliency Conference on May 10th. Early bird registration is still open for $95--be sure to register today! Sponsorships are also still available for this event--contact Lindsay Borge, Director of Events for more information at [email protected].
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Bills We're Watching
Our bill tracking system, "Bills We're Watching," provides a quick and easy way for our members to stay abreast of all legislation pertinent to business. Short, concise summaries of each bill are provided along with the Chamber's "thumbs-up" or "thumbs-down" position.
Click on the image above to view Bills We're Watching. |
Budget Update
The state budget is now in the hands of the conferees, who are required to complete their work by midnight on Saturday. The following is a list of budget items that we have expressed our support and opposition on to the conferees.
The Virginia Chamber supports the following budget provisions: - GoVirginia (Item 109 N.1): We ask that the budget include sufficient funding to incentivize a public-private partnership between business, education, and government to strengthen Virginia's economy.
- Research and Development (Item 106): We ask that the budget include such funds as to support business growth and enhance economic competitiveness.
- VA Port Authority (Item 462): We ask that the budget allocate funds to support new port operations and maintenance.
- Dulles Airport (Item 438): We support additional funding for Dulles International Airport to ensure the airport remains economically viable and competitive.
- Workforce training/credentialing (HB 66)- (Item 144): We support funding measures that promote and provide students with workforce credentialing and provide the necessary training and equipment in furtherance of the transformation of Virginia's workforce development system.
- Pre-K Funding (Item 138): We support the grant program in support of public-private delivery of Pre-K.
- Teacher Pay-for-performance (Item138 #1s) : We support the language adopted in the Senate budget that provides competitive multi-year grants to help initiate change to more dynamic teacher compensation systems designed to increase teacher quality, effectiveness, and satisfaction, and generate higher student achievement.
- K-12 Funding (Item 138): We support additional funding for classroom instruction as well as career and technical training programs.
- Clean Power Plan Language (Item 369 #1H): We support the language adopted in the House budget that prohibits DEQ from expending any funds provided for air protection to develop or implement EPA's Clean Power Plan until the Supreme Court's stay of such plan is released.
The Virginia Chamber Opposes the Following Budget Provision: - Market-based Sourcing Report for Corporations for Taxable Year 2014 (Item 275 v. 1): We ask that Item 275 v. 1 in the Senate budget be stricken from the final version of the budget. It requires all Virginia corporations having income from business activity which is taxable both within and without the Commonwealth of $50 million dollars or more on their 2014 tax return to file a new form to the Department of Taxation by June 1, 2016 or be subject to a penalty. The Virginia Chamber believes changes of this magnitude should be vetted through the legislative process, with adequate notice given to the affected parties.
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Governor Vetoes Clean Power Plan bill
This week, Governor McAuliffe vetoed Senate Bill 21, which would require General Assembly approval of a plan to comply with the federal Clean Power Plan. The Virginia Chamber supported this bill.
Virginia Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President of Corporate and Government Affairs Ryan Dunn issued the following statement after the veto:
"We are disappointed that Governor McAuliffe vetoed legislation that would have made the process for complying with the Clean Power Plan more transparent and accountable. The Clean Power Plan would grant unprecedented authority to EPA in dictating the energy policy of the states. The Supreme Court has issued a stay on implementation in response to a suit challenging EPA's authority. The impact and effects of the Clean Power Plan will be felt by all Virginians and this sweeping policy change should be approved by their elected representatives in the General Assembly. That process would ensure that key economic impact questions would be answered and it would give rate payers a voice. The passage of this bill would also have allowed Virginia to receive an extension on implementation. EPA provides for an extension for a myriad of reasons, including one clearly defined reason as approval by a state's legislature."
Last week, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce joined 166 state and local business associations from 40 different states in an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit explaining the harmful economic impact posed by the EPA's carbon regulations. The lawsuit, which will be considered by a federal appeals court this summer, involves EPA's "Clean Power Plan" rules, which aim to reconfigure state electricity systems. It is expected to be a landmark case that could shape Virginia's energy and economic future. You can read more about the amicus brief here.
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Tom Kuhn to Keynote 2016 Energy, Sustainability and Resiliency Conference!
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Greater Richmond Convention Center
Early Bird Rate: $95
Keynote Remarks by:
Tom Kuhn
President, Edison Electric Institute
Companies invest billions of dollars in detecting and preventing potential attacks on critical infrastructure. Tom Kuhn will discuss how the government and private industry can work together to protect our grid and our economy.
Tom Kuhn is President of the Edison Electric Institute, the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. EEI's members provide electricity for 220 million Americans, operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and directly employ more than 500,000 workers.
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Featuring Panel Discussions On:
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Virginia's All of the Above Energy Strategy
Blueprint Virginia calls for the Commonwealth to embrace an "all of the above" energy strategy that supports economic development and job growth while meeting the growing needs of our population and business community. How is Virginia harnessing our diverse solar, wind, coal, natural gas, and nuclear resources to ensure the Commonwealth's long term economic vitality?
Sustainability-Good For Business
We know that Virginia businesses are leading the way in developing new sustainability practices with a global impact. Every year, they find ways to use resources more efficiently and effectively. Businesses in Virginia devote millions of dollars annually to sustainability efforts that impact their communities. Business leaders will highlight how their organizations think about and practice sustainability across the board-and why it is good for their bottom line.
Threats to Resiliency in Virginia - How and What is Virginia doing?
Reliable energy and data infrastructure is essential for businesses. Threats to our infrastructure-whether from natural events or a man-made disasters such as a cyber-attack-have a major impact not only on the utility industries but on the businesses that rely on them. Resilient infrastructure not only enhances quality of life, but helps businesses operate more efficiently and reliably. This panel will highlight how Virginia companies are planning and responding to events that could disrupt energy supply and mitigating risks through policies, programs, and investments that provide for more secure and resilient energy and data infrastructure.
Platinum Sponsors
Diamond Sponsor
Presenting Law Firm
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Interested in International Expansion? Take Advantage of VITAL!
The Virginia Chamber is proud to partner with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership on VITAL, the Virginia International Trade Alliance. As a VITAL partner, our member companies have access to steeply discounted rates for international market research as well as international trade shows and international trade missions facilitated through VEDP.
Click below for more information:
If you or a company that you work with is interested in learning more about VITAL, please contact Samantha Quig, Deputy Director of Communications, at [email protected] or 804-237-1457.
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