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2022 Advocacy Updates

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One of The Chamber’s four core functions is our role as a leading voice OF and FOR business, promoting and influencing pro-business, pro-growth policies and procedures while opposing those that are not.

The Chamber tracks local, state, and federal legislation and informs members of how it may impact their business and our community. We inform and guide members when action is needed, and provide the necessary information and most effective ways to take such action.

2022 Chamber Advocacy Updates

November 28, 2022 – The Chamber signed on to a letter with more than 400 groups that called on Congress to intervene in an ongoing railroad labor standoff that threatens to idle shipments of food and fuel and strand rail travelers while inflicting billions of dollars of economic damage.  A rail traffic stoppage could freeze almost 30% of U.S. cargo shipments by weight, stoke inflation and cost the American economy as much as $2 billion per day by unleashing a cascade of transport woes affecting U.S. energy, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and retail sectors.  To read the letter and view the organizations that signed on, click HERE.

October 4, 2022 – The Chamber signed on to a coalition letter that was sent to the President Biden that called on the Biden Administration to remove impediments to greater domestic energy production—including abandoning an Administration proposal to ban new offshore lease sales.  To view the press release click HERE.  To read the letter and view the organizations that signed on, click HERE.

August 5, 2022 – The Chamber signed on to a coalition letter that was sent to the Members of the United States Congress opposing the Inflation Reduction Act.  The letter states the Act includes taxes that would discourage investment and undermine economic growth and price controls that would limit American innovation. Despite the name of the bill, independent analysis confirms that it would have little to no impact on inflation and may in fact increase inflationary pressure in the near-term.  To read the letter and view the organizations that signed on, click HERE.

July 28, 2022 – Passage today of The CHIPS and Science Act will spur economic growth and safeguard national security.  The Greater Springfield Chamber had signed on to a coalition letter from the US Chamber of Commerce encouraging members of the United States Congress to fund the Creating Helpful Incentives for the Production of Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act and enhanced Facilitating American-Built Semiconductors (FABS) Act.  Click HERE to read the full statement from the US Chamber.

June 30, 2022 – The Chamber emailed an Advocacy Update to members notifying them of several state laws affecting the business community that go into effect on July 1, 2022.

June 15, 2022 – The Chamber signed on to a coalition letter that was sent to the Members of the United States Congress opposing S. 2992, the “American Innovation and Choice Online Act,” and S. 2710, the “Open App Markets Act.”  Bills like S. 2992, would lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers, discourage vigorous competition, and create different rules for American companies based on arbitrary criteria like market capitalization, while imposing no restraints on most foreign companies.  To read the letter and view the organizations that signed on, click HERE.

May 4, 2022 – The Chamber signed on to a coalition letter from the US Chamber of Commerce sent to members of the United States Congress urging them to fund the Creating Helpful Incentives for the Production of Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act and enhanced Facilitating American-Built Semiconductors (FABS) Act.  Approval of funding provisions would help meet this long-term challenge by incentivizing semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing in the United States.  To read the letter and view the organizations that supported it, click HERE.

April 13, 2022 - Provided members in our weekly email, The Brief, and in our April Update magazine, with information about an Illinois state law that, as of November 1, 2022, will require employers with as few as 16 employees to offer an employee retirement plan either through a private plan or through Illinois Secure Choice.  Click HERE for more information.

April 13, 2022 - Provided members in our weekly email, The Brief, with a recap of the end of the general assembly session.  The linked document provides an update and celebrates the successes on each platform item of the Chambers All In for Economic Recovery coalition.

March 1, 2022 - The Chamber sent an email to members alerting them to the state of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, the State's financial reserve for unemployment claims.  As part of the Chambers All In for Economic Recovery Coalition, the Chamber supports using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to address the UI Funding issue, and asked members to share their stories with elected officials to encourage this position.

February 16, 2022 - The Chamber filed a witness slip supporting HB 5255 that would extend the EDGE tax credit starting January 1, 2023.  It is currently scheduled to end on June 30, 2022.

February 16, 2022 - The Chamber filed a witness slip opposing HB 5412 that would amend the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act.

February 11, 2022 - Sent Advocacy email to members to take action on HB 5320.  HB 5320 was recently moved to the Revenue and Finance Committee, and is now accepting witness slips.

February 2, 2022 - Provided members in our weekly email, The Brief, with information that the “Chambers All In for Economic Recovery” has multiple bills submitted for its 2022 Platform.

HB5320, filed by Representative Croke, will address the need to expand the Minimum Wage Tax Credit. HB5255, filed by Representative Wheeler, will allow for the EDGE business credit to be extended for another ten years. The current EDGE credit will sunset this June. Three pieces of legislation have been filed to establish safety guidelines for businesses against claims that COVID-19 was contracted at the place of business (HB1830 Durkin, HB3003 Batnick, and SB2140 McConchie). These bills can be monitored at ilga.gov.

January 20, 2022 - The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce has joined Chambers All in for Economic Recovery for its second year.  This initiative includes nearly fifty Chambers across the state in urging the Illinois Legislature to prioritize economic and regulatory relief for Illinois’ businesses.  You can learn more about the initiative and its platform HERE.

January 19, 2022 – Provided members in our weekly email, The Brief, with information on current bills of interest that include HB2642 Scheduling Requirements for Nurses, HB3061 Right to Repair, HB4116 Employer’s Ability to Test for Cannabis, and HB4215 Child Bereavement Leave.

President & CEO Mike Murphy will be tracking the progress of these and other bills as they progress through the General Assembly.  Mike will also be monitoring the negotiations of the Unemployment Insurance Fund deficit currently being discussed by business and labor groups.

 

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