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.

Business and Agricultural Groups Welcome Release Of TPP Agreement Text

US Trade Representative (USTR) released the full text and chapter summaries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement early this morning. You can find it all on the USTR website, as well as on Medium, here.

 “We welcome the public release of the Trans-Pacific Partnership text and commend the Administration for having done so as quickly as possible,” said David Thomas, President of the Trade Benefits America Coalition. “A well-crafted TPP has significant potential to expand U.S. trade opportunities with some of the world's fastest growing markets – to the benefit of American businesses, farmers, and workers. We look forward to examining the agreement closely and continuing to work with the Administration and Congress as the TPP process moves forward."

TPP has the potential to reduce tariffs on 18K U.S. goods. We look forward to seeing how the TPP can help farmers, ranchers, and small businesses across the country. Trans-Pacific Partnership fact sheets, issue briefs, and chapter summaries can be found here, via http://bit.ly/1kcq7ma #TPP

Opportunities for Government Contracting

Businesses looking to win government contracts will have the opportunity at the Greater Pierce County Purchasing Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the STAR Center, 3873 S 66th St in Tacoma. Click here for map and directions.

Learn first-hand how to register and compete for contracts with federal, state, and local government agencies, meet one-on-one with purchasing agents, network with other Pierce County business owners and managers, and participate in breakout sessions.

• Panelists and exhibitors include 
• Pierce County
• City of Tacoma
• Port of Tacoma
• Washington State Department of Transportation
• Washington State Department of Enterprise Services
• Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
• Native PTAC
• NAVSUP Fleet Logics Center-Puget Sound
• U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Joint Base Lewis-McChord
• Tacoma Public Schools
• Pierce Transit
• Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council
• King County Director Association (KCDA) School Purchasing Consortium
• Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises

Register online or contact Hans Kueck at (253) 798-2335 or email.

Thank you for Passing Transportation Package

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.

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").

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This Week Critical to Support TPA

Late last week, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, Ranking Member Ron Wyden, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan introduced the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, legislation that will renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).  

Thjs Chamber, the U.S Chamber and many of you have been outspoken in favor renewing TPA, which is needed to achieve high-quality trade deals that open markets, benefit American workers and job creators, and grow the economy. (A multi-industry letter, which lists nearly 300 organizations from all 50 states weighing in on behalf of TPA was delivered to Capitol Hill this morning.)

As Senate and House leadership, and President Obama lead a bi-partisan effort to pass this legislation, several important hearings have been scheduled this week on Capitol Hill.  U.S. Chamber President & CEO Tom Donohue will testify before the Senate Finance Committee this morning; this will be followed by a Senate Finance Committee mark-up tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22.  On the House side, Ways and Means has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday morning, and a mark-up may be held as early as Thursday.  Strong votes out of committee are crucial to building momentum in advance of Floor consideration.

Voicing your support with your Congressional delegation in support of this TPA legislation is critical, this week particularly to Senators on the Senate Finance Committee and Representatives on the House Ways and Means.  A comprehensive library of resources making the case for TPA can be found below, including a link to send a letter.

Suggested talking points for a phone call to Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Members might be along the lines of:

-          Exports are critical to our state and community, which is why we are supportive of our nation’s robust trade agenda.

-          As your committee looks at these issues this week, we urge you to support the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 -  bipartisan legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) that was introduced last week by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI).

-          TPA not only gives Congress a seat at the table in our on-going trade negotiations, it gives Congress the final say on a trade agreement in an up or down vote.

-          Growth and jobs in our state depends on our ability to sell our goods and services to the 95% of the world’s customers that live outside the United States. TPA will help us seize the benefits of trade.

-          We urge you to support the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act as introduced.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, and please let us know what you learn in your outreach to your Members of Congress.

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.

WA State Senate Passed $15B Transportation Package

The Washington State Senate passed the $15 billion transportation package yesterday afternoon by finalizing their efforts with *Senate Bill 5987 and 5988 to bring funding to key mega-projects around the State. 

On Friday the Washington State Senate took eight votes 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 on Friday due to a procedural question on Rule 67, which caused delay in consideration of the gas tax, bond and additive funding bills, the final passage of the package was expected and completed Monday.

The Chamber encourages members to thank their Pierce County representatives for their efforts in funding the transportation package to their emails listed below. Senators Angel, Becker, Dammeier, Miloscia, and O'Ban dutifully represented Pierce County interests by continuing to vote yes on reform bills and complete their efforts by supporting the funding measures. 

This transportation package funds the clearing of traffic and port related congestion alike for both ends of Pierce County. It allocates necessary monies for upgrades to the SR-167 and the JBLM-Corridor, as well as other regional projects across the State.

Currently the bill heads to the House for its consideration. We urge our State Representatives from Pierce County to keep the goal of this package in site. Funding transportation will boost Washington’s economy by building projects necessary to compete globally as well as creating new jobs critical for citizens and workers. 

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