Federal Agenda 2013
For 34 years, The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce has traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the important issues facing our community. The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Free Trade Alliance now partner with The Greater Chamber in developing a comprehensive federal agenda with targeted priorities to make our city even greater. Community Development 1. Fund federal courthouse for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division in administration s FY14 budget Education & Workforce Development 1. Support the competition for allocation of the T56 engine repair workload with full accounting of all costs by each bidder in this competition. The public depot should not be permitted to discount any of its overhead costs. 2. Assist the San Antonio community in identifying additional defense maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work that could be performed at Port San Antonio and elsewhere in the city 3. Identify commercial MRO work opportunities that Port San Antonio and qualified firms in the city could pursue and capture Aerospace 4. Support the Alamo Academies and related educational opportunities that are helping advance San Antonio s position as a world-class aerospace engineering, manufacturing and MRO center of excellence 1. Reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA); aligning it better with the state system and providing state and local school districts greater flexibility to make educationally sound decisions 2. Support funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) that will increase the percentage funded by the federal government from 18% to 40%, as originally intended 3. Maintain the Pell Grant Protection Act and fund Hispanic Serving Institutions 4. Support Impact Aid, which makes up 50% of the total budgets for Lackland ISD, Ft. Sam Houston ISD, Randolph Field ISD, as well as a significant portion of the Northside ISD budget 5. Reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), increasing local flexibility, through transfer of funds, to deal with business needs and broadening the coverage of understandable performance measures 6. Enhance FY14 funding for our nation s academic health centers (especially the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio) to expand professional health education, patient care and biomedical research in San Antonio and the South Texas Border Region 2 Federal Agenda SA to DC 2013 San Antonio, Texas 3
Energy & the Environment 1. Support tax policy that encourages energy reinvestment including continued and/or broadened applicability of the master limited partnership structure to traditional and new energy projects, Section 199 deductions for domestic production and refining, exploration and production (E&P) tax credits, tax free treatment of municipal bond interest for energy projects, tax credits for renewable fuels and accelerated depreciation for energy project investments 2. Oppose an overly restrictive regulatory environment by: (a) eliminating trade policies that limit the exchange of energy resources and technologies, especially the export of domestic crude and natural gas and related products (b) reducing environmental regulation to allow for safe hydraulic fracturing and key infrastructure expansion projects 3. Support R&D investment in new technologies and financial mechanisms to promote clean energy technology and make it more affordable Healthcare & Bioscience 1. Continue Congress work on health system reform to ensure an adequate supply of qualified, participating physicians and providers, such that all who are currently, or planned to be, covered by federal programs have access to care and to create a fair and permanent solution to the physician payment system, expand funding for GME and ensure Medicare parity for Medicaid programs 2. Support alternatives to reduce the federal deficit that represent real solutions to achieve efficiencies and savings in healthcare and reject further arbitrary cuts to funding for healthcare providers 3. Oppose the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act which would end urgently-needed research at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and other organizations across the country that use chimpanzees to develop a vaccine for hepatitis C and other therapies for diseases for which there is no other animal model 4. Increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency that helps fuel San Antonio s $29B healthcare and bioscience industry that employs one in six of the city s employees. NIH is vital in developing new early screenings and new treatments for disease, which create jobs and foster innovation 4. Support targeted legislation to adress cybersecurity emergencies without placing an unnecessary burden on the electric utility industry that is duplicative of current processes and support enhanced informationsharing from the federal government to the industry Hospitality & Tourism 1. Support the expansion of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park boundary, and the Secretary of the Interior s nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site 4 Federal Agenda SA to DC 2013 San Antonio, Texas 5
2. Amend the Visa Waiver Program which deters international visitors to the U.S. 3. Support the Travel Promotion Act and its goal of increasing meeting/event travel to and within the U.S. 4. Improve deteriorating transportation infrastructure, including airport improvements and surface transportation Immigration & Homeland Security 1. Support immigration reform at the federal level with policies that a) ensure the safety and security of our nation s borders b) improve the process of obtaining work visas and increase their availability c) encourage investment and economic development through strengthening EB 5 visas d) implement a fair process to address the citizenship of undocumented immigrants currently residing in the U.S. 2. The AF should increase the number of contracts that are sourced out of San Antonio cyber and cybersecurityrelated units, and support funding for efforts like the Cyber Acquisition Office at Lackland 3. Remove outdated rules and requirements that prevent/hinder consumer and business access to the latest technologies and support investment in IP broadband and technology infrastructure, as well as tools for work, learning and staying connected 4. Oppose new taxes and excessive regulations on advanced technologies, including internet-based, wireless and satellite technologies 5. Encourage expanded investment and sound tax policy that ensures manufacturing and R&D are able to flourish, driving further innovation, job creation and investment in our communities and our state 6. Support targeted patent reform legislation and actions taken by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to address the continuing problem of patent troll litigation, which inhibits job creation and innovation 2. Fully fund the Urban Area Security Initiative for key law enforcement preparedness programs 3. Increase the number of employer-sponsored visas to retain technology-based university graduates and personnel with critical skills not currently available in regional domestic markets Information Technology 1. The Air Force should increase missions and manpower to the 24 AF, NSA Texas, and AF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency and other cyber-related missions International Trade 1. Work with U.S. and Mexican officials to improve bilateral relations supporting investment and trade 2. Examine, define and advocate for modernizations to U.S. tax rules that are currently hindering U.S. firms from effectively participating in the global economy and repatriating profits earned abroad 3. Renew Trade Promotion Authority for the President and expansion of Free Trade Agreements, such as the proposed EU-US FTA 4. End trade sanctions with Cuba, allow U.S. citizens and companies to visit the country, establish new busines and move toward normalizing diplomatic relations 6 Federal Agenda SA to DC 2013 San Antonio, Texas 7
5. In conjunction with the Department of State and Department of Education, develop collaborative programs focused on global awareness and interaction between students 6. Cultivate relations with foreign governments through embassy visits to enhance trade and investment opportunities for our region 3. JBSA-Fort Sam Houston: Army North (ARNORTH) Homeland Defense Operations Center MILCON ($50M in FY15) to provide critical infrastructure needed for ARNORTH s homeland defense mission 4. JBSA-Lackland: 3-phase Interfaith Religious Center MILCON ($29.9M) to provide for the spiritual needs of the BMT Airmen 5. JBSA-Fort Sam Houston: Army Advanced Individual Training Complex MILCON ($67M) to complete the Army s portion of the Medical Education and Training Campus Manufacturing 1. Develop a skilled workforce capable of meeting current and future manufacturing industry demands 2. Oppose regulations and mandates that undermine employer flexibility and discourage hiring of new employees 3. Encourage capital investment by establishing a stable legislative climate 4. Implement a comprehensive national plan for growth of the U.S. manufacturing industry 6. Select JBSA-Lackland for the beddown of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter during the next round of basing decisions, select the 149th Fighter Wing for an F-35 operational or training mission 7. JBSA-Randolph: Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) B Wing MILCON ($34M) to provide new administrative office space for AFPC 8. JBSA-Camp Bullis: Dining facility MILCON ($18.6M) to replace a greatly outdated facility 9. JBSA-Lackland: Air traffic control tower MILCON ($8.4M) to replace a structurally deficient tower Military Affairs Small Business 1. Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA)-Lackland: Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT) Campus Replacement Program MILCON funding ($359M) to provide training facilities for all newly-enlisted airmen, including dormitories and 4 dining facilities 2. JBSA-Lackland: Wilford Hall Ambulatory Care Center Phases III ($161.3M) and IV ($80.6M) MILCON to complete this project, providing healthcare to our military and their families 1. Encourage access to capital for small businesses through stronger U.S. capital markets, increased funding for federal programs, non-profit intermediary lenders, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), refinancing of 504 lending programs and the reauthorization of SBA7(a) 2. Provide opportunities for small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses to participate in bidding for large contracts, in an effort to meet SWMBE goal of 23% for FY12-13 8 Federal Agenda SA to DC 2013 San Antonio, Texas 9
3. Financially support Department of Defense sponsored Procurement Technical Assistance Centers 4. Support continued funding of Department of Treasury CDFI tax credit programs as well as the JOBS Act Crowdfunding 4. Expand the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and credit assistance for Alamo RMA projects along US 281 and Loop 1604 Transportation 1. Adopt the Federal Highway Administration Reauthorization Act at levels that maintain or increase current funding and reduce disparities between donor and non-donor states 2. Support TIGER IV, New Starts and other federal funding grant opportunities that further development of public transportation and/or multi-modal projects in our region 3. Support funding from the Projects of National and Regional Significance program ($50M) for preliminary engineering and design work on a freight rail bypass project to connect freight lines in Taylor and Seguin, allowing 80% of current traffic on the Austin-San Antonio line to be moved out of the urban core along I-35. Support categorical exclusion from the federal environmental process for regional passenger rail service along current Austin-San Antonio line after freight rail relocation. Water 1. Authorize appropriations for San Antonio s brackish groundwater desalination project through the Water Resources Development Act that also includes provisions for the creation of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Authority 2. Exempt water and wastewater utilities from the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards and oppose any legislation removing the exemption 3. Support any federal participation or funding in order to be in compliance with any projects associated with the Habitat Conservation Plan 4. Secure $10M in the FY14 Energy and Water appropriations bill from within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction General Account for reimbursing Bexar County for advancing a portion of the federal share of the San Antonio Channel Improvement Project (Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation Project) 2013 Leadership Team SA to DC Co-Chair DYA CAMPOS Director of Public Affairs, H-E-B SA to DC Co-Chair ABEL MARTINEZ Vice President - Partner Relations, Risk Solutions & Government Affairs ALEX BRISEÑO St. Mary s University & retired San Antonio City Manager Executive Chairman of the Board, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce KYLE BURNS President & CEO, Free Trade Alliance RAMIRO CAVAZOS President & CEO, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce ARTHUR COULOMBE GM, JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa Chairman of the Board, The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce JOHN LARUE Executive Director - Port Corpus Christi Chairman of the Board, Free Trade Alliance RICHARD PEREZ President & CEO, The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce 10 Federal Agenda SA to DC 2013 San Antonio, Texas 11
2013 Sponsors San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 200 E. Grayson, Suite 203 San Antonio, TX 78212 (210)225-0462 sahcc.org The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce 602 E. Commerce San Antonio, TX 78205 (210)229-2100 sachamber.org Free Trade Alliance 203 S. St. Mary s St., Suite 130 San Antonio, TX 78205 (210)229-9724 freetradealliance.org