Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce

What's New

What's New- Keeping you informed of our advocacy efforts

Action Alert:

Protect the US29 Corridor- Citizens are invited to attend and provide input on the preliminary recommendations for the US29 Corridor study. Please click here to see scheduled meetings.

Tell Congress to Oppose Flawed Health Care Proposals- The Chamber continues to support reforming the health system, specifically efforts to control costs and improve quality, reforms of insurance markets, and the creation of a streamlined, simplified marketplace to purchase insurance. However, bills in both the House and Senate fail a simple litmus test for health reform legislation: in its current form these proposals do not improve the current situation; in fact, they will largely make it worse. Tax increases to pay for a public plan, employer mandates, and minimum coverage will do more than devastate the private insurance industry--they could bankrupt our economy. This type of health reform would bankrupt our government and leave tens of millions of Americans without the health care they deserve. Tell Congress to oppose the creation of a "public plan," burdensome employer mandates, and minimum coverage requirements.
Utilize tool in the U.S. Chamber Health Care Tool Kit
U.S. Chamber Health Care Letter Sent to Speaker Peloski and Leader Reid
U.S. Chamber of Commerce- What the Chamber is For
U.S. Chamber of Commerce- Burdens on Employees
U.S. Chamber of Commerce- Health Reform Handout

Defeat BIG Labor- The “Employee Free Choice Act” (S. 560/H.R, 1409, EFCA, also known as ‘card check’) was introduced to Congress in March. EFCA would do away with secret ballot elections in union organizing drives, replacing them with a simple ‘card check’ process that is open to harassment and intimidation. It would impose binding arbitration on employers and employees if they couldn’t agree on a first contract within 120 days, and both sides would have to live with the consequences for two years. And it would ratchet up penalties for labor law violations – on employers but not unions. Contact Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb to express your unequivocal opposition to the Card Check legislation. If this legislation is allowed to pass the Senate, it will have a devastating effect on labor management relations in Virginia and across the country.
Virginia Chamber’s Action Alert
US Chamber Press Release

Our Efforts

Chamber members learn about the importance of Virginia’s Port.
Greg Edwards, Director of External Affairs for the Virginia Port Authority addressed the joint meeting of the Legislative Affairs and Transportation Committees to tell the story of the economic impact of Virginia’s Port. Lynchburg is important to the Port’s success that serves many of Lynchburg’s largest employers.

Chamber learns more about energy and climate change policy.
Chamber staff attended an Energy Citizens rally in Richmond to learn more about energy and climate change policy. The Chamber seeks to voice the concerns of the business community and support sound policy for American’s economic future.

Chamber and TDX Committee explore passenger rail partnership with Tennessee.
Chamber staff joined several members of the Committee to Advance the TransDominion Express in meeting with transportation representatives and legislators from Tennessee on the importance of bringing passenger rail to Bristol and beyond.

Chamber calls for regional unity in support of new Amtrak service.
Chamber staff met with representatives from along the US29 corridor on the importance of supporting the new rail service beginning October 1.
Changes unlikely in rail line's schedule
Lynchburg leaders trying to keep train schedule on track
Train schedule switch

Chamber ad condemns legislation fatal to small businesses.
The Chamber continues to work with the Virginian's for Workplace Fairness Coalition to defeat dangerous federal legislation that would remove the secret ballot in union elections.
See ad in News & Advance

Chamber staff participates in US Chamber Health Care Reform Conference Call.
Bruce Josten, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Randy Johnson, Senior Vice President, Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits, gave the over 500 in attendance, updates on the health care reform debate on Capitol Hill.

Chamber staff attends Goodlatte Energy Conference.
The event was hosted by Congressman Bob Goodlatte at Central Virginia Community College and included participation from a number of different local organizations, universities and government agencies who are working to develop alternative and renewable energy. The conference focused on ways to lessen our dangerous dependence on foreign energy. Guest speakers covered topics such as the importance of expanded use of home-grown and home-produced energy, including fully utilizing nuclear power and renewable energy technologies.

Chamber assists in receiving funds for US29 and US460.
The Chamber wrote a letter of support to Secretary Homer on behalf of the Region 2000 Local Government Council and the Lynchburg Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The Lynchburg MPO is seeking $11.4 million of stimulus funds entrusted to the Commonwealth Transportation Board to be used for access management where US29 and US460 converge.
View letter of support
View Secretary Homer’s response
View VDOT press release

Chamber Hosts Congressman Goodlatte for U.S. Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise Award.
The Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a Spirit of Enterprise Award Luncheon for Congressman Bob Goodlatte at Central Virginia Community College on Monday, June 8. He was awarded the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise award for his pro-business voting during the second session of the 110th Congress. Congressman Bob Goodlatte was one of the 260 who earned the Spirit of Enterprise Award.
Goodlatte, chamber agree on ‘card check’ (News & Advance)

Chamber supports Go 21 Initiative.
The Chamber sent a letter to Congressional representation supporting the Go 21 Initiative to protect railroad companies from being over regulated by the Federal Government.
View letter of support

Chamber joins Virginians for Workplace Fairness Coalition.
Staff from the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce joined representitives from across in Commonwealth in Richmond to unveil the Virginian's for Workplace Fairness Coalition.
View the Coalition List
Common Questions and Answers
Four major problems with Card Check
Workplace Fairness Coalition Ad

Local delegation visits and tours the Virginia Railway Express.
In anticipation of the new Lynchburg to Washington D.C. service, a local delegation visited the Alexandria headquarters of the Virginia Railway Express. Chamber President and CEO, Rex Hammond was accompanied by Lynchburg City Councilman Turner Perrow, Charlottesville TransDominion Express Committee Member Rebecca White and Chamber staff Corrin Hoffmann. The delegation rode the morning train from Broad Run into the city and was then treated to a tour and presentation by VRE’s CEO, Dale Zehner. The conversation mostly focused on best practices and lessons learned in VRE’s 17 plus years of service. View press release here.

US29 Chamber Coalition meets with Secretary Homer.
The Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce joined six other Chambers of Commerce in writing to Secretary Pierce Homer (view letter here) about the US29 Corridor Study currently underway by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Representatives from the group recently met with the Secretary to give their insight and stress the importance of protecting US29. The seven combined Chambers number more than 5,800 member enterprises employing more than 248,500 citizens altogether earning nearly $6.7 billion each year. View press release here.

New Regional Passenger Rail Service Announced.
The Chamber attended the Governor's announcement of the new Amtrak service from Lynchburg to Washington D.C. along with several members of the Committee to Advance the TransDominion Express. The new service is tentatively scheduled to leave Kemper Station at 7:45 AM and arrive in Washington at 11:30 AM. The return trip will leave Washington at 5:00 PM and arrive in Lynchburg at 8:30 PM. The service is anticipated to begin in October of this year.
DRPT Media Release: New Regional Passengar Rail Service

Lynchburg Regional Chamber Lobbies Congress with Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the US Chamber of Commerce to protect Virginia's Right to Work.
The Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce was among a group of 15 business interests that went to Capitol Hill to lobby against the Employee Free Choices Act (EFCA also known as Card Check). This joint venture of the US Chamber and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce included business lobbyists and representatives of Fortune 500 companies across the Commonwealth. The group met with Senator Webb as well as representatives from Senator Warner and Congressman Perriello’s offices. Right-to-work states like Virginia would not escape the job-destroying effects of EFCA. Even though workers in that state can’t be forced to pay union dues they could suddenly find themselves unionized, forcing them to give up the right to deal directly with their employers. Their employers could be saddled with costs and work rules that make their companies uncompetitive, forcing them to scale back operations, move overseas, or even close.
Letter to the Governor
Letter to US Congress
Media Release: Chamber Tells Congress to Oppose “Card Check”
Media Release: Card Check introduced in Congress

VDOT Commissioner Addresses Chamber Transportation Committee.
The Chamber’s quarterly Transportation Committee meeting featured an update from Lynchburg Regional Airport Director Mark Courtney as well as comments from VDOT Commissioner David Ekern and a presentation by US29 Corridor study leaders Charles Rasnick and Joe Springer.
Media Release: VDOT Commissioner Addresses Chamber Transportation Committee

Chamber staff met with Congressman Goodlatte to discuss US29 concerns. The Chamber presented the Congressman with a list of necessary outcomes from the recent US29 Corridor Study. This included five recommendations that would benefit US29 communities.

Chamber works to keep rail service on track.
In anticipation for the new Lynchburg to Washington D.C. service, staff from the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce recently attended an Amtrak Civic Conversation in Savannah, Georgia. View the press release here.

Lynchburg Regional Chamber supports Centra in opposing further Medicaid cuts. These cuts would result in cost shifting to the business community and workers. Read the Chamber's Resolution here.