BROOKLYN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Transcription

1 BROOKLYN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2017

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS JOINT LETTER FROM BOARD CHAIR, PRESIDENT AND CEO, AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS 1 NEW YORK CITY REPRESENTATIVES AND THE BROOKLYN DELEGATION 2-3 OUR MEMBERSHIP 4-5 OVERVIEW OF OUR 2017 MEMBER ISSUES SURVEY 6-7 WHERE WE STAND IN SUMMARY 8-9 WHERE WE STAND IN DETAIL Small Business Competitiveness 10 Tax Reform 13 Healthcare 14 Transportation and Infrastructure 16 Economic Development and Industrial Policy 20 Higher Education 21 Workforce Development 23 Travel and Immigration 25 Energy and Environment 26 BROOKLYN NIGHT SPONSORS 29

3 Dear Colleague, The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present its 2017 Federal Legislative Agenda. The primary purpose this document is to promote Brooklyn as the best place to do business. Here, you will find the Chamber s positions on a variety of federal policies that impact the borough s economy, from taxes, to healthcare, to transportation. Founded in 1918, and approaching its 100th anniversary, the Brooklyn Chamber promotes economic development across the borough and serves as an advocate for its member businesses, and we re incredibly honored to be named the 2017 Chamber of the Year by The Business Council of New York State! The Brooklyn Alliance is the not-for-profit economic development affiliate of the Brooklyn Chamber, which works to address the needs of businesses through direct service programs. Brooklyn Alliance Capital is the third affiliate of the Brooklyn Chamber and provides loans to immigrant and minority-owned small businesses. On a federal level, during the past year, we were grateful to have received funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to create a Brooklyn Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI); as well as a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to complete a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS.) In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration recently renewed funding that enables the Brooklyn Chamber to provide entrepreneurial support for veterans, in partnership with the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Topping our list of legislative priorities are affordable healthcare options for businesses, more resources for resiliency preparedness in the wake of Superstorm Sandy s five year anniversary, transportation and infrastructure investment in projects such as the Brooklyn Queens Connector (BQX), and tax reform for small businesses. This year s legislative agenda would not be possible without the work of the Brooklyn Chamber s Board of Directors, Government Affairs Committee and the federal delegation that represents Brooklyn, U.S.A. Of course, we would be remiss if we did not thank our members, who drive all that we do. Here s to another 100 years of business in Brooklyn! Best regards, Andrew Hoan President And CEO Denise Arbesu Chair, Board of Directors Antonia Yuille-Williams Co-Chair, Government Affairs Committee Gil Cygler Co-Chair, Government Affairs Committee page 1

4 THE BROOKLYN DELEGATION SENATE Hon. Charles Schumer Hon. Kirsten Gillibrand page 2

5 THE BROOKLYN DELEGATION HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Hon. Yvette Clarke Hon. Dan Donovan Hon. Hakeem Jeffries Hon. Carolyn Maloney Hon. Jerrold Nadler Hon. Nydia Velázquez page 3

6 OUR MEMBERSHIP CONCENTRATION OF MEMBERSHIP BY NEIGHBORHOOD GREENPOINT GREENPOINT WILLIAMSBURG WILLIAMSBURG BUSHWICK BUSHWICK BROOKLYN BROOKLYN HEIGHTS HEIGHTS DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN BROOKLYN CYPRESS CYPRESS HILLS HILLS FORT FORT GREENE GREENE BEDFORD-STUYVESANT BEDFORD-STUYVESANT COBBLE COBBLE HILL HILL CROWN CROWN HEIGHTS HEIGHTS CARROLL CARROLL GARDENS/RED GARDENS/RED HOOK HOOK PROSPECT PROSPECT HEIGHTS HEIGHTS PARK PARK SLOPE/GOWANUS SLOPE/GOWANUS BROWNSVILLE BROWNSVILLE EAST EAST NEW NEW YORK YORK PARK PARK SLOPE/WINDSOR SLOPE/WINDSOR TERRACE TERRACE EAST EAST FLATBUSH FLATBUSH FLATBUSH FLATBUSH SUNSET SUNSET PARK PARK KENSINGTON/WINDSOR TERRACE KENSINGTON/WINDSOR TERRACE CANARSIE CANARSIE BOROUGH BOROUGH PARK PARK BAY BAY RIDGE RIDGE MIDWOOD MIDWOOD DYKER DYKER HEIGHTS HEIGHTS BENSONHURST BENSONHURST FORT FORT HAMILTON HAMILTON FLATLANDS/MILL FLATLANDS/MILL BASIN BASIN GRAVESEND GRAVESEND SHEEPSHEAD SHEEPSHEAD BAY/BRIGHTON BAY/BRIGHTON BEACH BEACH CONEY CONEY ISLAND ISLAND page 4

7 PERCENTAGE OF MEMBERSHIP BY TRADE page 5

8 HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR 2017 FEDERAL MEMBER ISSUES SURVEY Key Findings Every year, through the Brooklyn Chamber s Member Issues Survey, Chamber Members are polled on a variety of topics, from their outlook on their respective businesses and the economy, to their greatest obstacles to growth. Here are some other key findings that we wanted to highlight: The majority of businesses said that their bottom lines have been negatively affected by the transit and traffic conditions in the borough and that they are in overwhelming support of projects aimed at improving Brooklyn s transportation infrastructure, like the BQX. 85 percent said that internet speed is very important to the operation of their business and more than 70 percent support continued enforcement of net neutrality. page 6

9 More than 80 percent are concerned by the effects that climate change can have on the U.S. economy. More than 50 percent believe that giving their employees the opportunity to gain equity in their businesses would result in long term benefits.? Most stated that the complexity of the Tax Code impedes the productivity of their businesses. page 7

10 WHERE WE STAND SMALL BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS Net Neutrality - SUPPORT Bolstering Entrepreneurship & Innovation SUPPORT Improved Connection between New York City, New York State and Federal Certification Processes for M/WBEs SUPPORT Increased support for Veteran Businesses - SUPPORT Small Business Services Centers - SUPPORT Expansion of Small Business Administration Programs SUPPORT TAX REFORM Simplify Tax Code - SUPPORT HEALTHCARE Funding Cuts to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) OPPOSE Increase Access to Coverage and Quality Care SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE Brooklyn Queens Connector (BQX) SUPPORT Gateway Project - SUPPORT Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project SUPPORT Development of Highly Automated Vehicles (HAVs) SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL POLICY Modernization of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) REVIEW RECOMMENDED Amend the North American Free Trade Agreement - REVIEW RECOMMENDED Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) SUPPORT Modernize North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) SUPPORT page 8

11 HIGHER EDUCATION Research Funds for Institutions of Higher Learning SUPPORT College Access Programming - SUPPORT Federal Perkins Loan Extension Act of 2017 SUPPORT Pell Grants - SUPPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Family and Medical Insurance Leave SUPPORT Employee Ownership SUPPORT Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) SUPPORT TRAVEL AND IMMIGRATION Implementing Immigration Policy that Supports American Workers and the Economy SUPPORT Visa Waiver Program (VWP) - SUPPORT National Travel and Tourism Strategy SUPPORT ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT Strengthening Our Energy Infrastructure - SUPPORT Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Project SUPPORT Natural Disaster Relief and Resiliency - SUPPORT page 9

12 SMALL BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS NET NEUTRALITY - SUPPORT The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce supports the maintenance of Net Neutrality which will ensure that all businesses and consumers have equal access to the internet. We believe that an open internet is vital to encouraging innovation, maintaining competition, and creating jobs. Net Neutrality lowers the barriers of entry for small businesses and startups, and has allowed these kinds of businesses to grow through their online presence. In our 2017 Federal Member Issues Survey, 85 percent of respondents shared that internet speed is very important to the operation of their businesses, and more than seventy percent support continued enforcement of net neutrality. As such, the Brooklyn Chamber will advocate for Congress to enshrine Net Neutrality protections in law in order to preserve a level playing field for businesses provided by an open internet, and urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to continue to enforce Net Neutrality under Title II authority. However, there is need for long-term Congressional action. BOLSTERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION SUPPORT The Brooklyn Chamber includes over 2,000 members from a vast array of businesses, in both long established sectors and newly emerging markets driven in large part by the breakneck pace of technological advancement and changes in consumer behavior. As government regulators attempt to keep up with these changes to protect consumers and ensure fairness in the marketplace, the Brooklyn Chamber encourages a thoughtful approach to the concept of a shared economy. We encourage the enactment of legislation that fairly regulates the shared economy, where micro-entrepreneurs can use their existing resources to earn income, while contributing to economic vibrancy in neighborhoods. It is our hope that our elected officials support legislation that adapts to the new shared economy while protecting consumers and ensuring fair competition. page 10

13 IMPROVED CONNECTION BETWEEN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK STATE AND FEDERAL CERTIFICATION PROCESSES FOR M/WBES SUPPORT As it stands, Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) are required to be certified separately with New York City, New York State and federal entities, which creates a serious administrative burden and can discourage small businesses from applying. Each application is very lengthy and complex, so it is very taxing for a business owner to position him/ herself to be able to have access to procurement opportunities at all levels of government. A standard application that can be accessed online across a unified New York City, New York State and Federal platform would greatly improve the process of certification for M/ WBEs. We understand that certain certifying requirements differ across agencies. However, if the standard application offers supplemental documents that can be submitted separately, that would help to make the process faster and more efficient. INCREASED SUPPORT FOR VETERAN BUSINESSES - SUPPORT The Brooklyn Chamber has spent years developing a support network throughout Brooklyn that veteran entrepreneurs can rely on for guidance when starting a business or looking to expand. As an extension of this, the Chamber supports any efforts by the Federal Government to ensure that veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB) are given the opportunity to succeed. The Brooklyn Chamber supports HR.2749, the Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2017, which seeks to ensure that when the VA awards a contract to a VOSB, no more than half of the work required is done by a non-vosb sub-contractor. This rule will ensure that all the benefits of veteran preference policies already in place at the VA are truly directed toward veterans. The Chamber supports S.121, the Veterans Small Business Ownership Improvements Act, which will create a Women Veterans Business Training Program. This program will offer more personalized business training to female veterans and encourage more women to start businesses after leaving the armed services. Initiatives like this will have positive impacts on the Brooklyn business community and economy. The Brooklyn Chamber urges Congress to advance these two bills and continue to support veteran businesses with similar legislation. page 11

14 SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES CENTERS - SUPPORT The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has been privileged to be the borough s one-stop shop for start-up and small business owners by managing the NYC Business Solutions Brooklyn Center, through the New York City Department of Small Business Services. Our staff provides newlyformed companies and long-term Brooklyn institutions with a range of services including business planning, recruitment and workforce training assistance, pro-bono legal assistance financing, procurement opportunities and Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise certification, among other business needs. Congresswoman Velázquez has introduced several measures in the past that have supported these aims and that the Brooklyn Chamber has supported. We would hope the Committee on Small Business in the House would again bring such measures forward for debate. EXPANSION OF SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS - SUPPORT In bolstering America s small business community, the role of the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs cannot be understated. The SBA supplies thousands of small business owners with the necessary loans and guarantees to finance their growth, serve more members of their communities, and hire more workers. Many Brooklyn Chamber members can attribute their continued success to SBA loan programs, which propelled their businesses into high gear. We specifically support expanding the following programs: Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) SBA s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program is a unique public-private partnership designed to direct private investment funds supplying government-guaranteed capital to deserving small businesses that might otherwise be overlooked. More than $17 billion has been invested in America s small businesses through the SBIC program in the last five years. Currently, more than 30 percent of qualified funds are restricting future investments as they approach the program s $225 million SBA leverage cap. The Brooklyn Chamber supports efforts to increase that threshold. We also echo Congresswoman Velázquez s concerns that not enough SBIC investment has been directed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by minorities, women, and/or veterans. SBA Microloans to Nonprofits Over 3,900 nonprofits have been able to access more than $55 million in long term financing, technical and management assistance from business professionals, directly supporting 16,000 jobs around the country in This program assists small-scale, community nonprofits with getting access to financing for their expansion projects. Technical assistance funds provide further resources for participating nonprofits to build capacity for future endeavors. page 12

15 TAX REFORM SIMPLIFY TAX CODE - SUPPORT The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is committed to facilitating the growth of small businesses by empowering its constituent entrepreneurs. Therefore, we are advocating for a tax reform plan that will encourage small businesses in Brooklyn, and around the country, to grow and strengthen the American economy. Our 2017 Federal Member Issues Survey indicated that nearly half of our members have experienced a loss of productivity due to the burdens and complexities of the U.S. Tax Code. In addition, corporate taxes consistently rank as one of the top obstacles to doing business for Brooklyn Chamber members. In order to ease this burden and encourage businesses to operate more efficiently, the Brooklyn Chamber supports efforts to simplify the tax code. Such improvements include lowering rates, creating incentives for reinvestment, and streamlining the process of filing. U.S. businesses face some of the highest marginal rates in the world as other countries modernize their tax codes to the benefit of their economies. The Brooklyn Chamber supports efforts to lower the marginal corporate tax rate to a level that will allow businesses to be competitive in the global economy and encourage companies to relocate to the U.S. We encourage Congress to push for full expensing of capital expenditures and to make the change permanent rather than having the provision expire in five years. The Brooklyn Chamber does not support plans to limit the ability of corporations to deduct net interest expense, which will discourage investment and works against some of the other provisions designed to encourage growth. Above all, the Brooklyn Chamber believes that the reforms made to the tax code should be permanent to create a stable landscape on which businesses can develop long-term strategies for growth. The country is in need of comprehensive tax reform that is probusiness and pro-growth. A plan that achieves these goals will grow U.S. GDP, increase jobs, and reenergize the economy. page 13

16 HEALTHCARE FUNDING CUTS TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) OPPOSE In August, 2017 the administration announced plans to implement sharp cuts to ACA outreach and enrollment funding, which would have a negative impact on the program s ability to advertise services, and reduce In-person Assistors (IPAs), or Navigators by nearly half. According to the New York State of Health Marketplace, over three million New Yorkers have enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) programs since the law s implementation in October Drastic cuts will have a very devastating effect on Brooklynites who need access to affordable health care options. Navigators provide culturally competent, linguistically appropriate, and disability accessible enrollment services at convenient times, including evenings and weekends, at no cost to enrollees. Thanks to the support of the Brooklyn legislators in Washington, D.C. and Albany, in July of 2013, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, through its not-forprofit affiliate The Brooklyn Alliance, was awarded a contract to provide in-person health insurance assistance services in Brooklyn to both individuals and small businesses. Since then, the Brooklyn Chamber has partnered with the Brooklyn Public Library, elected officials and community leaders to facilitate onsite enrollment services. This year, the Brooklyn Chamber s Navigator program has so far registered 1040 individuals; and of that number, has enrolled 927. We ve also consulted with over 104 businesses to review health insurance savings that are available through ACA. This demonstrates the importance of the work that Navigators do in helping to address the health insurance needs of consumers who may not have otherwise been able to afford it. We urge Congress to restore funding for this ACA program to ensure New Yorkers have the support they need to access and understand their health insurance options, including those available through the New York State of Health Marketplace. INCREASE ACCESS TO COVERAGE AND QUALITY CARE - SUPPORT With the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) uncertain, the stakes are enormous- not only for the more than 20 million Americans who gained insurance through the ACA, but also for the health practitioners, administrators, insurers, researchers and facilitators working to improve the health and quality of life in our communities every day. page 14

17 As such, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce will continue its advocacy for businessfriendly health care policies that protect access to coverage and quality care, create health professional workforce opportunities and work to improve the health of all individuals. 1. Protect Medicaid and CHIP: Medicaid and Children s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment in Brooklyn grows every year, with one in three Brooklyn residents now on Medicaid and roughly half of Brooklyn s children relying on Medicaid or Child Health Plus. As health care reform discussions continue at the national level, it is essential that Congress sustain support for Medicaid Expansion and CHIP for the health of Brooklyn s communities. 2. Create Health Professional Workforce Opportunities and Enhance our Health Care Workforce: The Brooklyn Chamber promotes fair reimbursement rates for primary care and specialty providers, and urges Congress to continue funding for graduate medical education training and workforce programs such as the Children s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program, Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program and the National Health Service Corps. 3. Preserve Funding for Biomedical Research: Funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has played a significant role in developing life-saving disease treatments and funding options for emerging companies and bioscience jobs. The Brooklyn Chamber opposes NIH funding cuts, and encourages Congress to stand in support of the great work being done at Brooklyn s NIH-dependent nonprofit educational institutions and research hospitals. 4. Improve the Health of All Individuals and Businesses and Protect Small Businesses: Taxes such as the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) will have a big impact on employers and force them into unwanted decisions about how they operate their companies and care for their employees. As health care reform funding discussions continue, the Brooklyn Chamber urges Congress to prioritize protecting smaller employers against harmful and unfair taxes like the HIT. 5. Developing Strategies to Address Behavioral Health: From overcrowding and expensive treatment in our jails to providing adequate care for the urban homeless population, addressing behavioral health is a growing need in major metropolitan areas across the U.S. We continue to support funding for behavioral health assistance, and the passage of legislation and regulatory solutions that advance the provision of integrated health care sectors. page 15

18 TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE The Brooklyn Chamber supports a broad based, aggressive investment strategy to meet our infrastructure needs and provide for sustained job opportunities for our members. In order for the United States to achieve its maximum economic potential in the 21st Century, the U.S. must have an infrastructure system that provides the foundation for a dynamic 21st Century economy. In our 2017 Federal Member Issues Survey, more than half of respondents said that their businesses have been negatively affected by the transit and traffic conditions in the borough and that they are in support of projects aimed at improving Brooklyn s transportation infrastructure. Therefore, we urge Congress to move forward on a broad and bold infrastructure plan that: Fixes our roads and bridges which are in dire need of repair. With over 50,000 bridges in America rated as structurally deficient, our nation cannot afford not to act. The Brooklyn Chamber believes that Congress must come together and tackle this challenge in a bipartisan way: one that not only fixes our current infrastructure problems, but provides long-term certainty and sustainability to the Highway Trust Fund so that we prevent further deterioration from occurring. Strengthens our nation s airport infrastructure to reduce congestion and increase safety. The Brooklyn Chamber supports bolstering programs such as the Airport Improvement Program and other existing funding streams which provide critically needed funding for the planning and development of public-use airports across the United States. Increases funding for water projects that improve water quality and lead to increased economic development. With many American drinking water and wastewater systems being over 50 years old, and in some instances, over 100 years old, the Brooklyn Chamber supports repairing and replacing outdated systems through the greater utilization and funding of the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. Further, the Brooklyn Chamber supports fully funding Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) programs to make needed repairs to our waterways across the country. Retrofits our public buildings to make them energy efficient. The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce supports making the needed investments that will lead to long-term operating cost savings while creating thousands of new jobs for building trades members. Further, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce supports utilizing the existing, budget neutral Energy Savings Performance Contract and Utility Energy Service Contract Authority to jump-start this critical priority. Increases investment in public infrastructure through innovative financing mechanisms, such as Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) and a National Infrastructure Bank. While not the entire solution to our infrastructure funding challenges, increased investment of private capital can augment investments from existing federal programs, alleviating some of the funding pressures faced by local, state, and federal agencies. Invests in the future by building new schools. According to the U.S. Department of Education, roughly half of American K-12 schools are in need of renovation, repair, and modernization. The Brooklyn Chamber supports aggressive investments to ensure our children can learn in a safe, clean environment. page 16

19 Cuts red tape by continuing to reform the permitting process. Unfortunately, businesses and state and local government agencies seeking to undertake major capital projects often must run the gauntlet of numerous separate agency reviews and approvals. That process is plagued by a lack of coordination, few deadlines, insufficient transparency, and litigation exposure as long as 6 years after securing required approvals. The Brooklyn Chamber supports the permitting reforms included in the Fixing America s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, and calls for further streamlining procedures to ensure timely project delivery for both public and private infrastructure. Protects the dignity of working Americans by maintaining hard-fought labor standards. These standards, through either the consistent application of Davis-Bacon prevailing wage laws, the use of Project Labor Agreements in federal procurement, or strong Buy America provisions, strengthen the construction industry and lead to a more productive workforce with a higher standard of living. We urge the President to follow through on his pledge to enact a $1 trillion dollar infrastructure package and for Congress to work with the Administration on that package. The Brooklyn Chamber enthusiastically supports these efforts and acknowledges the need for robust infrastructure development in the city. We urge the Administration and Congress to put forward an infrastructure package that will address the needs of Brooklyn, New York, and the rest of the country, to ensure continued economic growth. BROOKLYN QUEENS CONNECTOR (BQX) - SUPPORT ` The Brooklyn Chamber strongly supports the Brooklyn Queens Connector (BQX) project, a waterfront streetcar that would run from Sunset Park to Astoria. The impacts of the construction of this streetcar would be game changers for New York City. Along the East River waterfront, there has been profound economic growth through the construction of residential, commercial and industrial projects. New families, retail, makers, and office tenants have filled these new spaces and transformed the waterfront into an innovation corridor. There has been a recent surge in support for the project and the Brooklyn Chamber encourages the City to move forward with the planning and development of the next vital piece of Brooklyn s transportation network. Intra/inter-borough mass transit has long been and continues to be a challenge for this corridor. Therefore, the Brooklyn Chamber asks that the Federal Government continue to support the efforts of the city to make this plan a reality as well as modernize the transportation infrastructure that will be essential to the continued growth of the borough. page 17

20 GATEWAY PROJECT - SUPPORT The Northeast Corridor region is home to one quarter of the nation s population and roughly one third of its gross domestic product, all of which rely on robust infrastructure to maintain. Unfortunately, New York City finds itself connected to the rest of the region by a patchwork of century-old rail lines in need of much repair. While state, local and federal stakeholders should be commended for the work already completed and underway to correct this issue, there remains one aspect that demands greater attention: strengthening and doubling the capacity of the Hudson River rail tunnels. Over the years, these tunnels have become the biggest choke point for the Northeast rail systems. The 110-year-old rail tunnels leading into Manhattan s Penn Station have experienced shut downs and have caused immense delays for intercity and commuter passengers. Superstorm Sandy showed us that the tunnel is at great risk of being forcibly closed for extended periods of time unless greater efforts are exerted to retrofit higher resiliency systems on the existing infrastructure. The Brooklyn Chamber supports the Gateway Project, led by Amtrak and the states of New York and New Jersey, to rectify this issue before it cripples the regional economy. Building off some of the work of the previously proposed Access to the Region s Core (ARC) plan, Gateway calls for the construction of a new set of tunnels and correlated new track segments in New Jersey. With additional trans-hudson capacity, stakeholders will be able to take segments of the existing tunnels offline for rehabilitation and resiliency implementation. Additionally, major improvements would need to be made to Penn Station, the single busiest transit node in the Western Hemisphere. This includes the repositioning of Amtrak platforms to the Moynihan Station, which is under construction and the further expansion of commuter rail capacity in the form of a Penn Station South. The growth of our borough, city, and region relies on the realization of the Gateway Project. The Brooklyn Chamber commends the efforts of Congress to allocate funding for the project and encourages continued support for this vital infrastructure modernization effort. CROSS HARBOR FREIGHT MOVEMENT PROJECT - SUPPORT Under the leadership of Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project (CHFMP) proposes the connection of rail points in the east (Brooklyn, NY) and west (Jersey City, NJ) of the Hudson River via an underground tunnel beneath the New York Harbor for the efficient movement of freight. It is estimated that more than $1 trillion worth of freight per year everything from food to furniture enters New York City almost entirely page 18

21 by trucks coming over the George Washington Bridge. This proposal will capitalize on a unique opportunity to expedite the speed and efficiency at which these goods are transported, reduce pollution and the burden on our already taxed roadways. This project has strong support from Mayor de Blasio, Governor Cuomo, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and a host of other New York City economic development entities. In May 2017, this project achieved a major milestone when the Port Authority issued an RFP for consultants to conduct the Tier II Environmental Impact Study and complementary advanced planning and engineering work. The Brooklyn Chamber is proud to lend its support to the CHFMP proposal, which will change the way goods move through Brooklyn and bring economic, environmental, health, safety, and cost saving benefits for millions of people. The Brooklyn Chamber urges continued Federal support for this endeavor. DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHLY AUTOMATED VEHICLES (HAVS) SUPPORT HAVs represent an efficient use of technology and innovation to potentially reduce the number of deaths and injuries related to human error. Therefore, the Brooklyn Chamber joins the American Car Rental Association (ACRA) in its call for the development of highly automated vehicles - provided that key safety, consumer protection and liability issues are addressed. We encourage lawmakers to continue to work with ACRA, and other stakeholders, on creating a framework to resolve potential challenges such as liability, ownership of motor vehicles, taxes and fees, as well as privacy and cybersecurity, in order to create a path for the introduction of HAVs into the light-duty motor vehicle fleet within the next decade. page 19

22 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL POLICY MODERNIZATION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) REVIEW RECOMMENDED NAICS is the standard used by federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy. However, innovation is rapidly changing the way of doing business, especially in the world of manufacturing. Currently, NAICS groups businesses into production-oriented economic sectors such as manufacturing, services and innovative consulting. However, today s maker economy can represent more than one of these labels simultaneously. Therefore the current NAICS code is in need of modernization to keep pace with newer business models in which manufacturing, innovation and services are in alignment. AMEND THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT REVIEW RECOMMENDED The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce supports NAFTA with revisions if negotiations are re-opened. One of the goals of the NAFTA Agreement was to eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade between countries. However, the spirit industry in the U.S. is experiencing many lost opportunities when it comes to direct sales of alcoholic beverages because people crossing the Canadian border are only allowed to bring two bottles of wine, one large standard bottle of liquor, or 24 cans of beer. On the other hand, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, there is no federal limit on the amount of alcohol a traveler may import into the U.S. for personal use. Furthermore, most Canadian provinces restrict the sale of wine, beer and spirits through province-run liquor control boards. Market access barriers in those provinces greatly hamper exports of U.S. wine, beer and spirits to Canada. These barriers include costof-service mark-ups, restrictions on listings (products which the liquor board will sell), reference prices (either maximum prices the liquor board is willing to pay or prices below which imported products may not be sold, in order to avoid undercutting domestic prices), labeling requirements, discounting policies (requirements that suppliers offer rebates or reduce their prices to meet sales targets), distribution, and warehousing policies. page 20

23 Moreover, while Canada increased its personal duty exemption limit in June 2012, Canadian tourists still face high provincial taxes on personal imports of U.S. wines and spirits upon their return to Canada from the United States. This inhibits their purchases of U.S. alcoholic beverages. The Brooklyn Chamber urges the administration to consider these restrictions in their attempt to update NAFTA and work to reduce the limitations on alcoholic beverages from the U.S. INVESTING IN MANUFACTURING COMMUNITIES PARTNERSHIP (IMCP) - SUPPORT The IMCP program is an initiative designed to revolutionize the way federal agencies leverage economic development funds. It encourages communities to develop comprehensive economic development strategies that will strengthen their competitive edge for attracting global manufacturer and supply chain investments. Through IMCP, the federal government is rewarding best practices coordinating federal aid to support communities strong development plans and synchronizing grant programs across multiple departments and agencies. As manufacturing remains a cornerstone of the Brooklyn economy, the Brooklyn Chamber supports this program and other efforts like it. We encourage the federal government s continued investment in helping communities attract global manufacturing. HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH FUNDS FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING - SUPPORT Brooklyn is home to several institutions of higher learning, both public and private. The funding of scientific research is critical to our nation s ability to innovate, compete, and grow the economy. Basic scientific research generates innovation and discovery that lead to new technologies, products, and industries. In addition to innovation and discovery, our future is also dependent on the development of a workforce that is able to fully compete in this global economy. This workforce must be educated in the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math. Full federal funding of federal research programs at agencies such as NIH, NSF, NASA and the Department of Energy are critical to our goals of making new scientific discoveries, educating and developing a competitive workforce and competing successfully in the new global economy. For FY 2018, we urge Congress to ensure that the research agencies receive robust funding. To operate efficiently and effectively, federal agencies depend upon a reliable flow of page 21

24 funding. This is especially the case for the science and health research agencies and their grantees, as scientists must know if they can count on the support needed to continue and complete their research. In order to avoid disrupting these agencies and the work of scientists, upon whom the country depends to conduct research, we urge Congress to ensure these institutions are supported in the federal budget. COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAMMING SUPPORT The Brooklyn Chamber supports continued increases in support and funding for college access grant programs that target underserved New York students, including, but not limited to, initiatives like Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP), and Upward Bound. These and similar programs help to improve college readiness, increase high school graduation rates, increase family knowledge of postsecondary options, and improve overall student and financial outcomes in our communities. FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN EXTENSION ACT OF SUPPORT This act is sponsored by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) in the House and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in the Senate. It would extend the authority of institutions of higher learning to disburse educational loans to new and current undergraduate borrowers for another two years after the program expired on September 30, The importance of funding support for students requiring loans to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees cannot be overemphasized if our nation is to compete effectively in a global environment. The Brooklyn Chamber urges Congress to reauthorize the Perkins Act. PELL GRANTS - SUPPORT The Brooklyn Chamber has great enthusiasm for robust public investment and innovation in the education of America s children - our future workers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. The Pell Grant program has been an integral part of federal investment in the nation s higher education system since its inception. Pell Grants help low and moderate-income students pursue education after high school, and are a source of opportunity and economic mobility. The vast majority of recipients come from families making $40,000 or less each year. The Pell Grant program is facing drastic cuts. In addition, in the FY 2018 appropriations process, the program is under constant threat of inflation, potentially causing the grant s page 22

25 value to diminish. The Brooklyn Chamber urges Congress to reconsider its cuts to the Pell Grant program and continue to invest in the education of American students. We also encourage Congress to continue indexing the grants to keep up with inflation and retain their purchasing power. The Brooklyn Chamber hopes to maintain access to higher education for a vast number of families that might not otherwise find it affordable. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FAMILY AND MEDICAL INSURANCE LEAVE - SUPPORT Brooklyn is a borough of diverse neighborhoods, interconnected communities, and generations of families striving to reach the American dream. In that spirit, Brooklyn small business employers often come to care for their employees as virtual members of their extended families. Our business community values the success of our employees as much as the growth of the enterprises in which they are engaged. Many of our members provide excellent health benefits, vacation time, sick leave, and other benefits. The Brooklyn Chamber has supported the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act introduced by Senator Gillibrand, and applauds that effort to extend worker protections to include standards and provisions for providing employees with family and medical leave insurance. In our 2015 State Member Issues Survey, 46 percent of respondents agreed, and 25 percent strongly agreed with New York Governor Cuomo s proposal of 12 weeks of paid family leave when caring for an infant or ill family member. Our state support extends to the federal measure being proposed. Senator Gillibrand s bill, S.337, and its companion bill, HR.947, introduced in the House by Rep. DeLauro, directs employers provide a certain level of family and medical leave insurance (FMLI) benefit payment for each monthly pay period in order to cover costs and wages incurred from unplanned leaves of absence. The Brooklyn Chamber continues to support the efforts of Senator Gillibrand and Rep. DeLauro to promote this measure and urges Congress to take action on these issues. page 23

26 EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP - SUPPORT The Brooklyn Chamber proudly supports the efforts of its members to implement employee ownership plans in their businesses. Whether as a part of the business succession plan or in the form of offering employees the chance to gain equity in the companies they work for, the Brooklyn Chamber believes these efforts contribute to greater worker satisfaction and higher productivity. In our 2017 Federal Member Issues Survey, more than 50 percent expressed that giving their employees the opportunity to gain equity in their businesses would result in long term benefits. Therefore, we urge Congress to continue supporting these types of initiatives by passing legislation like the WORK Act (S.1081 and HR.2387) that attempts to establish and expand employee ownership centers by providing more than $45 million in funding. These centers provide training and technical support for programs promoting employee ownership. The Brooklyn Chamber also supports the United States Employee Ownership Bank Act (S.1082 and HR.2357) which would create a U.S. Employee Ownership Bank to provide $500 million in low-interest rate loans and other financial assistance to help workers purchase businesses through an employee stock ownership plan or a worker-owned cooperative. Both of these bills are sponsored by Senator Sanders (D-VT) and co-sponsored by Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) along with other Democratic senators. The Brooklyn Chamber commends these efforts and urges more legislators to join in supporting policies that encourage employee ownership initiatives. WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) - SUPPORT This 2015 act is designed to help job seekers secure employment, education, training and support services necessary to succeed in the job market and to match employers with skilled workers needed to compete in a global economy. The $3 billion program integrates a number of federally funded core programs, such as: Employment and training services for adults, youth and dislocated workers Adult education and literacy programs Vocational Rehabilitation State grant programs assisting the disabled to find employment The Brooklyn Chamber strongly supports continued implementation and funding of WIOA, along with the Workforce Innovation Fund (described earlier in this section) as page 24

27 essential components in the nation s ability to compete effectively in an increasing global commercial environment. However, we would like to highlight the need for similar training programs that focus specifically on preparing workers to meet rapidly changing needs in the technology and innovation sectors. Some of our Brooklyn Chamber members have reported challenges finding workers who possess digital, technical and software skills that meet the needs of their operations. Federal investments to adequately train workers to function in Brooklyn s rapidly growing innovation sector would not only be transformative for communities where opportunities for economic and educational advancement are less accessible, but would be game changers for the U.S. economy. TRAVEL AND IMMIGRATION IMPLEMENTING IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT SUPPORTS AMERICAN WORKERS AND THE ECONOMY - SUPPORT Immigration remains a critical component of economic growth in Brooklyn. The borough is home to nearly 950,000 foreign-born residents nearly 40 percent of its population. Immigrants are also significant contributors to Brooklyn s economic strength nearly 50 percent of all Brooklyn businesses are immigrant-owned. It is estimated that 172,000 immigrants in Brooklyn are undocumented accounting for seven percent of Brooklyn s total population and upwards of 22,000 Brooklyn youth are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) eligible. The Brooklyn Chamber supports immigration provisions to expand the availability of H-1B visas to retain highly skilled workers, relief from the H-2B cap for seasonal workers, and guest worker provisions with a reliable verification system to help employers meet the law. VISA WAIVER PROGRAM (VWP) - SUPPORT The State Department s VWP enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa, when they meet certain requirements. This program is a significant aid to international tourism that supports hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions boroughwide. We support the continuance of this program. page 25

28 NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM STRATEGY - SUPPORT Attracting more international visitors is not just a benefit traditionally associated with the travel industry, including airlines, hotels and national parks, but also fosters job creation. A 2017 report from the U.S. Department of Commerce stated that international visitors spent nearly $146.3 billion on travel and tourism-related goods and services between January and July, 2017, which reflected an increase of three percent when compared to This type of vibrancy would have a positive effect on job creation. Because of the extensive economic benefits international travel delivers to America s economy, the federal government launched the National Travel and Tourism Strategy, with a goal of attracting 100 million international visitors to the U.S. annually by 2021 a more than 40 percent increase over today s 70 million visitors. It is an aggressive but achievable goal if we take the right steps now. In today s global marketplace, even an economy as powerful as ours must compete with other countries. The Brooklyn Chamber opposes a recent announcement by the administration to eliminate funding for Brand USA, an organization that markets the U.S as a premier travel destination, which is vital to existing efforts to increase tourist spending here. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT NORTHEAST SUPPLY ENHANCEMENT (NESE) PROJECT - SUPPORT Brooklyn businesses increasingly rely on natural gas for both heat and electricity and we will reach supply limits in the not-too-distant future. We believe that the NESE project would make our infrastructure more reliable and help sustain our small businesses. We support sustainable energy development, and growing energy demand means that increased supply from a number of sources wind, solar, and natural gas is needed. NESE will deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for Brooklyn generations to come. We respectfully suggest that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approve this project. page 26

29 STRENGTHENING OUR ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE - SUPPORT A strong energy infrastructure is critical to ensure the safe delivery of energy sources to cities, businesses, and homes. Our current energy infrastructure including generation, storage, transmission and distribution facilities is inadequate to meet our current needs. The Brooklyn Chamber supports making the critical investments needed to modernize our energy delivery systems, from electrical grids to pipelines, as well as power generation facilities that ensure affordable energy for American consumers. NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF AND RESILIENCY - SUPPORT The Brooklyn Chamber realizes that with the increase in frequency and severity of natural disasters across the country, comprehensive plans for disaster relief and recovery are more important than ever. In our 2017 Federal Member Issues Survey, more than 80 percent of respondents expressed concern about the possible effects of climate change on the U.S. economy. We support the relief package being passed through Congress that will provide funds to areas impacted by hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as areas impacted by wildfires in the Western U.S. It is vital that the federal government help rebuild communities that have been damaged or destroyed by natural disasters and acknowledge that these efforts can take years of continued support for affected areas to truly recover. October 29, 2017 marked the fifth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy which devastated many Brooklyn businesses in coastal neighborhoods. In fact, many were forced to close, and some have not completely recovered and have been heavily reliant on funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). However, some of our members that have been affected by Superstorm Sandy have made us aware of seemingly heavy red tape, which prolongs access to funds for small businesses from FEMA. The Brooklyn Chamber encourages Congress to consider making changes to the way FEMA operates in its disaster recovery efforts. These changes should attempt to achieve faster response times from FEMA by removing redundancies and overlap in the management of recovery projects. Congress should also push for better integration between FEMA and the state agency in charge of disbursing the federal funds, and for better distribution of information on FEMA programs. Further, it is very important for federal investments to be made in boosting resiliency efforts in Brooklyn s waterfront communities and surrounding infrastructure, so that they will be better prepared for the reality of climate change. page 27

30 LEGISLATIVE VISITS, WASHINGTON DC AND BROOKLYN NIGHT RECEPTION PRESENTING SPONSOR RECEPTION SPONSOR LUNCHEON SPONSOR page 28

31 CORPORATE SPONSORS page 29

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33 JOIN US ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 FOR OUR CENTENNIAL GALA AS WE CELEBRATE 100 YEARS of business in BROOKLYN! New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge 333 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY JOIN US ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 FOR OUR CENTENNIAL GALA AS WE CELEBRATE 100 YEARS of business in BROOKLYN! New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge To learn more visit us at 333 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY To learn more visit us at Peter M. Meyer Chair Centennial Committee denise arbesu Chair Brooklyn chamber of commerce Andrew Hoan President & CEO Brooklyn chamber of commerce

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