U S Chamber Supports TPP

US Already Has FTAs with 6 TPP Countries

U.S. trade with our free trade agreement (FTA) partner countries supports more than 17.7 million American jobs and billions of dollars in U.S. exports.

The United States has routinely increased exports to FTA partners following implementation of the agreements with those countries.

The United States exported more than $739 billion in goods and services to six Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries that are already FTA partners — Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Singapore.

For more information on the value of trade and the TPP to the WA economy, click HERE.

Trade Supports Growth and Jobs in Every State

International trade creates jobs and economic growth in every state, and now supports an estimated 39.8 million American jobs – more than one in five jobs. 

Click here to see how trade supports economic growth and jobs each state.

For more information on the benefits of trade and U.S. trade agreements to America, click here.

Tacoma Minimum Wage Task Force Updates

Tacoma's Minimum Wage Task Force has been meeting in earnest for the last three weeks and is starting to evaluate options on what a minimum wage increase for the City of Tacoma might look like.


At this point there are four proposal on the table that would all raise the minimum wage from anywhere of $1.33 to $5.53 or $10.80 to $15.00.  However, the timelines, costs and implementation still vary widely.


As the Task Force nears it's June 30th deadline to report back to City Council, now is the time to share your thoughts on any increases.  The task force has a single email address set up at: minimumwage@cityoftacoma.org


We encourage to share the impacts of a minimum wage to your organization.

TPA-2015 Keeps Congress in Control on Trade

The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015) keeps Congress firmly in control of the legislative process that implements trade agreements. In fact, Congress is making sure it has even more control than it did under TPA-2002.

TPA-2015:

Click here for an overview of the timeline and requirements under TPA-2015.

For information on the benefits of trade and U.S. trade agreements to America, click here.

(Click on Images for a LARGER View)

Call For Urgent Action on Reauthorization of Export-Import Bank

More than 1,000 companies and associations (Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber on page 11), representing businesses and their employees from all 50 states, today called on Congress for quick action on a long-term reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) in a letter coordinated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM),

“Failure to secure a long-term reauthorization of Ex-Im would amount to unilateral disarmament in the face of other governments’ far more aggressive export credit programs, which have provided their own exporters with significant financing support in recent years,” said the more than 1,000 companies and associations in the letter.

“If Ex-Im is not reauthorized before June 30, American companies would be put at a unique disadvantage in global markets, resulting immediately in lost sales and lost jobs. U.S. businesses of all sizes would be deprived of a vital financing source at a time when boosting exports is increasingly vital to growing our nation’s economy and jobs.”

(Click on Image fore a LARGER view)

Email Address for Public Comment to Minimum Wage Task Force

Those wishing to submit public comment to the Minimum Wage Task Force can do so by emailing minimumwage@cityoftacoma.org.

All comments must follow the City Council’s Rules of Procedure. Per these rules, each email should: identify the author, address the Task Force as a whole, focus on the topic of minimum wage in Tacoma, and maintain courteous language. Authors that fail to comply with these rules will not have their comments submitted to the Task Force.

Comprised of 15 members and two alternates, the Minimum Wage Task Force is tasked with reviewing and discussing minimum wage alternatives in Tacoma, including alternatives to the 15 Now Initiative, and providing recommendations to the City Council by June 30, 2015.

Additional information is available at cityoftacoma.org/minimumwage. Questions can be directed to Christina Watts at (253) 591-5861.

Mayors Join Forces Supporting TPA

From mayors to cabinet secretaries on both sides of the political aisle, the message is clear: Congress should pass the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015).

See below the letter and list of mayors (including Mayor Marilyn Strickland), who are encouraging Congress to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA/"fast track").

(Click on image for a Larger View)

Governors Ask for Export-Import Bank

Governors of 28 states have jointly asked by letter to the leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank.

(Click on images for a larger view)

Second Opportunity to Meet w/ Legislators

Chamber Members are invited to join the Chamber's delegation to Olympia for Legislative Advocacy Day #2 on Monday, April 6.

Registration with Karissa HERE.

Transpo Package: Action Now & Results (So Far)

UPDATE:  Mar. 3, 8:28 a.m.

For the most comprehensive update, go HERE.

UPDATE: Mar. 2, 3:16 P.M.

WA Senate passed final two bills in the Transportation Package:

Senator	5987	5988
Senator Jan Angel	Y	Y
Senator Randi Becker	Y	Y
Senator Steve Conway	Y	Y
Senator Bruce F. Dammeier	Y	Y
Senator Jeannie Darneille	Y	Y
Senator Mark  Miloscia	Y	Y
Senator Steve O'Ban	Y	Y
Senator Pam  Roach	N	N
TOTAL VOTE	27Y-22N	41Y-8N

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SAY "THANK YOU" TO SENATORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE PIERCE COUNTY DELEGATION, FOR VOTING "YES."

Friday, the Washington State Senate took eight votes on final passage to adopt pieces of legislation that are necessary components of a new transportation revenue, expenditure and reform package for Washington state (SB 5990 – SB 5997). 

While Senate session was ended due to a procedural question, which caused delay in consideration of the gas tax, bond and additive funding bills until Monday, we expect final passage of the package to happen on Monday.

What we need is for you to communicate to your Senators (LIST and EMAILS BELOW) and thank them for their vote, if appropriate.

Passing these reforms bills is critical to the success of the entire package.  We know we need to upgrade our infrastructure and not allow our highways to deteriorate.  The full package under consideration will build projects necessary to compete globally.  These projects will increase the health of our state economy as well as deliver a return on investment for Washington State.  Additionally, the package will create new family wage jobs, critical for the many.  Please keep the goal of this package in site. Yes votes are votes to boost Washington’s economy today and for generations to come.

Tell them to keep up the good work on Monday by voting in favor of the remaining bills in the package (SB 5987 – SB 5589)!

Tell them we applaud your efforts so far.  Now let’s cross the goal line. Keep up the great work on Monday by voting in favor of the remaining bills in the package (SB 5987 – SB 5589)!

  

Senator	Email	5992	5991	5993	5990	5995	5997	5996	5994
Senator Jan Angel	jan.angel@leg.wa.gov	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Senator Randi Becker	randi.becker@leg.wa.gov	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Senator Steve Conway	conway.steve@leg.wa.gov	Y	N	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N
Senator Bruce F. Dammeier	tellbruce@comcast.net	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Senator Jeannie Darneille	Jeannie.Darneille@leg.wa.gov	Y	N	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N
Senator Mark  Miloscia	miloscia@comcast.net	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Senator Steve O'Ban	steve.oban@leg.wa.gov	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Senator Pam  Roach	roach.pam@leg.wa.gov	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
TOTAL VOTE		48Y-1N	27Y-22N	48Y-1N	26Y-23N	49Y-0N	49Y-0N	47Y-2N	30Y-19N
Bill Number	Title
5992	Ferry Vessel Construction
5991	DOT/env Leg
5993	Public Works - Labor
5990	Sales Taxes on Transpo Projects
5995	Mobility/Transit
5997	Transpo Project Delivery
5996	DOT Stakeholders
5994	DOT Corridor Permitting
Pending Bill Number	Pending Title
5987	Transpo Revenue
5989	Transpo Bonding