2018 State Legislative Agenda

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Arleen McDonald
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2018 State Legislative Agenda WORKFORCE HEALTH CARE The business community must partner with stakeholders and policymakers to advocate for adequate resources to help recruit, develop and retain

Greater funding to continue to provide quality K-12 education for Hillsborough County including technical and workforce training programs Hillsborough Community College s funding request for

preeminence performance benchmarking based on policy and merit The continued funding of Enterprise Florida, Inc.

1 2018 State Legislative Agenda WORKFORCE HEALTH CARE The business community must partner with stakeholders and policymakers to advocate for adequate resources to help recruit, develop and retain talent in Tampa Bay. Plans must be in place today to market and train the workforce of tomorrow. Greater funding to continue to provide quality K-12 education for Hillsborough County including technical and workforce training programs Hillsborough Community College s funding request for construction of their Dale Mabry Allied Health Building The University of South Florida s funding for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine & Heart Institute in Water Street Tampa Fair preeminence performance benchmarking based on policy and merit The continued funding of Enterprise Florida, Inc. and incentives that create highskill, high-wage jobs and significant capital investment in our state Policies that proactively address affordable housing in Tampa to maintain and recruit the workforce needed for a strong economy The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce supports reducing the cost of health insurance to the business community by increasing access to health insurance for all Floridians and legislation that gives our health care providers the infrastructure and regulatory environment needed to best serve our community Mandatory Personal Injury Protection for auto insurance either through the current PIP program or through a mandatory Medical Payments policy Moffitt Cancer Center s request for an increase in their share of the cigarette tax revenue by at least $8 million annually to fund a research tower and renovations and expansion of clinical facilities Florida s existing Certificate of Need (CON) program Ensure adequate funding for low-income healthcare programs The Telehealth Advisory Council s recommendations for both coverage and adequate reimbursement of health care services provided via telehealth to promote access to care for Floridians

2018 State Legislative Agenda TRANSPORTATION Transportation is a core service of government that is critical for economic development and facilitating the efficient delivery of goods and services.

State policies and funding for transportation improvements in the Tampa Bay region including: Tampa Bay Next Program Tampa International Airport and Port Tampa Bay Transit projects that increase

2 2018 State Legislative Agenda TRANSPORTATION Transportation is a core service of government that is critical for economic development and facilitating the efficient delivery of goods and services. Sufficient transportation funding of all options is needed to implement a robust and connected transportation network in Tampa Bay. State policies and funding for transportation improvements in the Tampa Bay region including: Tampa Bay Next Program Tampa International Airport and Port Tampa Bay Transit projects that increase regional connectivity Continued statutory and funding mechanisms to fully implement Tampa Bay Area Transit Authority (TBARTA) Funding to rebuild and modernize the Westshore area interchange (I-275 and SR60) and provide additional capacity on I-4 (east of the Selmon Connector to Polk County) Near term efforts to reduce congestion on I-275 while FDOT and local agencies collaborate in the Tampa Bay Next process to identify long term transportation priorities Economic development and business thrive where regional collaboration is strong, regulatory and tax burdens are minimal, right to work laws that protect our citizens remain in place and wages are economy based. Businesses locate and expand in areas where these factors exist. Phased initiatives to Reduce the Tax Burden on Commercial Real Estate Transactions Changes to the Workers Compensation system that protects Florida s businesses without jeopardizing access to care for worker s comp beneficiaries

2018 Federal Legislative Agenda Economic development and business thrive where regional collaboration is strong, regulatory and tax burdens are minimal and wages are economy based.

Comprehensive tax reform and lowering of the Federal Corporate Tax Rate to 20% or less with matching rate for those small businesses that file as S Corp Easing the regulatory burden on businesses

intact Modernizing the EB5 Visa program while maintaining much needed investment in United States development Modernizing while also protecting the proven economic benefits the United States enjoys

3 2018 Federal Legislative Agenda Economic development and business thrive where regional collaboration is strong, regulatory and tax burdens are minimal and wages are economy based. Businesses locate and expand in areas where these factors exist. Comprehensive tax reform and lowering of the Federal Corporate Tax Rate to 20% or less with matching rate for those small businesses that file as S Corp Easing the regulatory burden on businesses while ensuring workplace and consumer safety Consistency, fairness and accuracy in the implementation of cyber security ratings on businesses Keeping the oil drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico intact Modernizing the EB5 Visa program while maintaining much needed investment in United States development Modernizing while also protecting the proven economic benefits the United States enjoys under NAFTA WORKFORCE The business community must partner with stakeholders and policymakers to advocate for adequate resources to help recruit, develop and retain talent in Tampa Bay. Plans must be in place today to market and train the workforce of tomorrow. Efforts to modernize post-secondary apprenticeship pathways with the business community Reauthorization of the Perkins Bill Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act An increase in the H-1B Visa Cap to expand temporary and permanent visa programs for highly skilled workers

2018 Federal Legislative Agenda TRANSPORTATION MILITARY AND DEFENSE Transportation is a core service of government that is critical for economic development and facilitating the efficient delivery of

Efforts to continue to grow and enhance Tampa International Airport and Port Tampa Bay Federal funding for transportation improvements in Tampa Bay to include TIGER Grants Permit streamlining and

4 2018 Federal Legislative Agenda TRANSPORTATION MILITARY AND DEFENSE Transportation is a core service of government that is critical for economic development and facilitating the efficient delivery of goods and services. Sufficient transportation funding of all options is needed to implement a robust and connected transportation network in Tampa Bay. Efforts to continue to grow and enhance Tampa International Airport and Port Tampa Bay Federal funding for transportation improvements in Tampa Bay to include TIGER Grants Permit streamlining and regulatory rollback that hinders private investment in transportation and infrastructure The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, has enjoyed a close working relationship with the MacDill Air Force Base - a vital part of our nation s defense that has a $ billion impact on the Tampa community. We understand the importance of promoting and supporting our brave men and women and their families who serve our country and call our community home. The mission of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill AFB and its tenant units, including USCENTCOM, USSOCOM, JCSE, MARCENT and the 927th Refueling Wing The need for federal budget certainty and predictability to help our defense community plan and support MacDill Air Force Base WHAT WE RE MONITORING The attacks on American diplomats in Cuba and its impact on future US-Cuba relations Adjustments to the Affordable Care Act for quality and affordable healthcare for all Floridians

2018 Local Legislative Agenda Elected leadership at all levels impacts the business community. However, Local Government policies may have the most immediate impact on small business growth.

5 2018 Local Legislative Agenda Elected leadership at all levels impacts the business community. However, Local Government policies may have the most immediate impact on small business growth. The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County should ensure tax dollar investments are targeted to economic development initiatives. Efforts to expand local private and public revenue sources dedicated to transportation to expand transit services and options, provide more safe routes for bicyclists and pedestrians and repair our roads A budgetary process that is transparent and provides the certainty businesses need to plan A regional Career and Technical Education (CTE) awareness campaign Providing input to the comprehensive study of transportation options and needs through the Premium Transit Study The Shop Gandy! business campaign, which helps market and promote Gandy-corridor businesses before, during and after construction of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority s (THEA) Selmon Extension Collaboration among stakeholders during the Tampa Bay Next process of identifying communitywide transportation priorities, while continuing to address impacts to affected neighborhoods Policies that proactively address affordable housing to maintain and recruit the workforce needed for a strong economy

FLORIDA S 2017 BUSINESS AGENDA. SECURING FLORIDA S FUTURE FloridaChamber.com

FLORIDA S 2017 BUSINESS AGENDA SECURING FLORIDA S FUTURE FloridaChamber.com Making Florida s business climate more competitive is what the Florida Chamber of Commerce fights for every day. Another legislative