An Action Alert is a message that the Chamber sends to businesses, members and community stakeholders calling on them to take action to influence public policy. Typically, Action Alerts are in reference to a timely issue, where prompt action is needed in order to affect upcoming decisions.
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ACTION ALERT
Subject: Pass Legislation to Protect Businesses Against Frivolous COVID-19 Lawsuits
Issue Date: May 22, 2020
Sectors Impacted: All
Cities: All
Action Alert # 200522-01
Summary:
Businesses are worried about getting sued as they reopen. Many companies are seriously concerned about what happens when an employee gets COVID-19 on the job and says the employer should have done more to stop it. In countless interviews with business owners, the Chamber has heard over and over, that businesses are concerned about being sued over meritless litigation. The Chamber is calling on elected officials to support targeted and limited liability protections to ensure companies are not unnecessarily stifled by meritless lawsuits surrounding COVID-19.
Action Required:
Subject: Pass Legislation to Protect Businesses Against Frivolous COVID-19 Lawsuits
Issue Date: May 22, 2020
Sectors Impacted: All
Cities: All
Action Alert # 200522-01
Summary:
Businesses are worried about getting sued as they reopen. Many companies are seriously concerned about what happens when an employee gets COVID-19 on the job and says the employer should have done more to stop it. In countless interviews with business owners, the Chamber has heard over and over, that businesses are concerned about being sued over meritless litigation. The Chamber is calling on elected officials to support targeted and limited liability protections to ensure companies are not unnecessarily stifled by meritless lawsuits surrounding COVID-19.
Action Required:
- Sign on to our Letter going to state and federal elected officials.
ACTION ALERT
Subject: Letter on Re-Opening the Economy
Issue Date: May 2, 2020
Impacted: Businesses and Residents
Cities: All
Action Alert # 200502-2
Letter on Re-Opening the Economy
Summary:
Just as citizens are getting all sorts of mixed messages regarding COVID-19 , so is the business community. Small businesses have to deal with a maze of red tape from federal, state, and local governments to start a business, apply for a business, hire employees, pay taxes, enforce contracts, and even close a business. There are even complex regulations for placing signs on the outside of a building. The regulatory complexity is death by a thousand cuts to our small businesses. Our businesses simply can’t grow and create jobs if they are constantly being burdened by increasingly complex and expensive regulations, especially during a health and economic crisis. That is why the Chamber is recommending Uniform Guidance on COVID-19, if we are to help get the economy back to health.
Action Requested:
Please sign the Chamber's letter being sent to the US Congress, state representatives, the governor, mayors and county officials Click Here
Background:
Some in Congress, and others, what to start our recovery by writing another regulatory rulebook to be enforced by bureaucrats. This is not what needs to be now, in the middle of the worst health, and economic crisis ever! NW Valley’s employers are responding to this crisis as they normally do by finding innovative ways to protect and serve their employees and customers. A one-size-fits-all regulatory approach will keep them from implementing solutions that best fit their unique workplace. And the last thing our small businesses need is a patchwork of differing guidance from federal, state, local officials, and other organizations.
Subject: Letter on Re-Opening the Economy
Issue Date: May 2, 2020
Impacted: Businesses and Residents
Cities: All
Action Alert # 200502-2
Letter on Re-Opening the Economy
Summary:
Just as citizens are getting all sorts of mixed messages regarding COVID-19 , so is the business community. Small businesses have to deal with a maze of red tape from federal, state, and local governments to start a business, apply for a business, hire employees, pay taxes, enforce contracts, and even close a business. There are even complex regulations for placing signs on the outside of a building. The regulatory complexity is death by a thousand cuts to our small businesses. Our businesses simply can’t grow and create jobs if they are constantly being burdened by increasingly complex and expensive regulations, especially during a health and economic crisis. That is why the Chamber is recommending Uniform Guidance on COVID-19, if we are to help get the economy back to health.
Action Requested:
Please sign the Chamber's letter being sent to the US Congress, state representatives, the governor, mayors and county officials Click Here
Background:
Some in Congress, and others, what to start our recovery by writing another regulatory rulebook to be enforced by bureaucrats. This is not what needs to be now, in the middle of the worst health, and economic crisis ever! NW Valley’s employers are responding to this crisis as they normally do by finding innovative ways to protect and serve their employees and customers. A one-size-fits-all regulatory approach will keep them from implementing solutions that best fit their unique workplace. And the last thing our small businesses need is a patchwork of differing guidance from federal, state, local officials, and other organizations.
Chamber Letter to Elected Officials
"The NW Valley business community appreciates that re-opening safely will require that we all undertake measures to reduce further transmission of COVID-19. We stand ready to do our part. Make no mistake; employers want to re-open in a way that is safe and sustainable."
The Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce
Serving the Communities of El Mirage, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Waddell, and Youngtown
"The NW Valley business community appreciates that re-opening safely will require that we all undertake measures to reduce further transmission of COVID-19. We stand ready to do our part. Make no mistake; employers want to re-open in a way that is safe and sustainable."
The Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce
Serving the Communities of El Mirage, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Waddell, and Youngtown
Official Letter from the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce
Dear US Members of Congress, Governor, State Legislators, Mayors, and County Supervisor:
On behalf of businesses of all sizes and across all industries in the NW Valley that we are privileged to represent as a Chamber, we are writing to thank you for your efforts to keep our communities safe and help in safely re-opening of the economy. The NW Valley business community appreciates that re-opening safely will require that we all undertake measures to reduce further transmission of COVID-19. We stand ready to do our part. Make no mistake; employers want to re-open in a way that is safe and sustainable.
We write to bring two concerns to your attention that have emerged in discussions with local business owners:
First, we urge federal, state, and local governments to refrain from converting public health and safety guidance into regulations that may add further challenges for businesses to re-open. Second, whenever possible, guidance should be consistent across federal, state, and local governments.
The business community is especially concerned by the push by some to impose new regulatory requirements rather than rely on guidance and best practices. There is no playbook for the re-opening of businesses while simultaneously fighting a pandemic. Yet those in favor of a regulatory approach envision government bureaucrats enforcing a rule book of regulations. For instance, they could issue fines when they find a sneeze guard out of place, an employee using the wrong mask, or two employees five feet ten inches apart, not the mandated six feet.
Such a rigid regulatory approach is simply impossible when talking about adapting safety measures for every workplace in the NW Valley. A heavy-handed regulatory approach will make it more difficult for safety measures to be quickly adjusted to reflect the changing reality of combatting the coronavirus, and may discourage some businesses from re-opening.
Further, a regulatory approach ignores what we have already learned from the thousands of essential businesses that have remained open during the shutdown orders. In each of our communities, businesses have improvised and innovated in critical ways to protect the health of their employees and customers. We want to encourage even more innovation as additional businesses re-open.
The second area of concern is the emerging patchwork of differing and, in some cases, contradictory guidance between federal, state, and local direction. While recognizing that guidance should meet local conditions, reducing unnecessary conflicts will make it easier for employers to implement responsible safety measures and instill confidence in the public by creating consistent expectations. We fully expect that re-opening will happen at a different pace throughout the country based on local conditions. It would be preferable if the guidance from state and local governments was more uniform across the entire state, which will speed the safe re-opening.
Thank you for the serious consideration and we look forward to continuing to work with your organizations to safely return our residents to work while showing the world that America is still the global leader in innovation and safety.
Respectfully,
Chris Herring
Government Relations Chair
Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce
Official Letter from the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce
Dear US Members of Congress, Governor, State Legislators, Mayors, and County Supervisor:
On behalf of businesses of all sizes and across all industries in the NW Valley that we are privileged to represent as a Chamber, we are writing to thank you for your efforts to keep our communities safe and help in safely re-opening of the economy. The NW Valley business community appreciates that re-opening safely will require that we all undertake measures to reduce further transmission of COVID-19. We stand ready to do our part. Make no mistake; employers want to re-open in a way that is safe and sustainable.
We write to bring two concerns to your attention that have emerged in discussions with local business owners:
First, we urge federal, state, and local governments to refrain from converting public health and safety guidance into regulations that may add further challenges for businesses to re-open. Second, whenever possible, guidance should be consistent across federal, state, and local governments.
The business community is especially concerned by the push by some to impose new regulatory requirements rather than rely on guidance and best practices. There is no playbook for the re-opening of businesses while simultaneously fighting a pandemic. Yet those in favor of a regulatory approach envision government bureaucrats enforcing a rule book of regulations. For instance, they could issue fines when they find a sneeze guard out of place, an employee using the wrong mask, or two employees five feet ten inches apart, not the mandated six feet.
Such a rigid regulatory approach is simply impossible when talking about adapting safety measures for every workplace in the NW Valley. A heavy-handed regulatory approach will make it more difficult for safety measures to be quickly adjusted to reflect the changing reality of combatting the coronavirus, and may discourage some businesses from re-opening.
Further, a regulatory approach ignores what we have already learned from the thousands of essential businesses that have remained open during the shutdown orders. In each of our communities, businesses have improvised and innovated in critical ways to protect the health of their employees and customers. We want to encourage even more innovation as additional businesses re-open.
The second area of concern is the emerging patchwork of differing and, in some cases, contradictory guidance between federal, state, and local direction. While recognizing that guidance should meet local conditions, reducing unnecessary conflicts will make it easier for employers to implement responsible safety measures and instill confidence in the public by creating consistent expectations. We fully expect that re-opening will happen at a different pace throughout the country based on local conditions. It would be preferable if the guidance from state and local governments was more uniform across the entire state, which will speed the safe re-opening.
Thank you for the serious consideration and we look forward to continuing to work with your organizations to safely return our residents to work while showing the world that America is still the global leader in innovation and safety.
Respectfully,
Chris Herring
Government Relations Chair
Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber Promise
The Chamber Promise reflects our fervently-held belief that the health of the business community and the health of larger community in which it lives are inextricable. And our work – is central to the success of the community as a whole.
We provide candidate forums, elected official meet-and-greets, and Action Alerts as a public service, and we are privileged and proud to play a role in the democratic process.
The Chamber Promise reflects our fervently-held belief that the health of the business community and the health of larger community in which it lives are inextricable. And our work – is central to the success of the community as a whole.
We provide candidate forums, elected official meet-and-greets, and Action Alerts as a public service, and we are privileged and proud to play a role in the democratic process.
ACTION ALERT:
Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO): Act will Harm the Business Community
Issue Date: 2/3/2020
Impact Area: All Businesses
Action Requested
- Immediately contact your elected official below and strongly discourage them from supporting Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R. 2474 and S. 1306). This legislation would harm workers, employers, and the economy.
- Please forward this Action Alert to your fellow business associates around the state.
Summary
The U.S. House of Representatives will likely be voting on the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act as early as this week. This bill threatens to destabilize America’s workplaces and impose a long list of dangerous changes to labor law. We strongly opposes the PRO Act because it:
- Undermines secret ballot elections in union organizing campaigns
- Undermines employee privacy by forcing employers to turn over to unions their workers’ home addresses, phone numbers, cell phone numbers, e-mail addresses, shift schedules and work locations
- Imposes California’s new “ABC” test for determining independent contractor status to the other 49 states, making it very difficult to continue the legitimate use of independent contractors which takes away the flexibility that has allowed American businesses of all sizes to grow
Read The Bill
Sample Speaking Points or Email Message:
" As a business owner/operator in your district, I am writing to express my opposition to the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R. 2474 and S. 1306), legislation that would harm workers, employers, and the economy. The PRO Act is a mash up of almost every failed idea from the past 30 years of labor policy. These so-called “reforms” would undermine worker rights, ensnare employers in unrelated labor disputes, disrupt the economy, and force individual Americans to pay union dues regardless of their wishes."
Contact NOW:
- Click on your representatives name below, and follow the links to contact them
- or use Find My District
Arizona’s senators are:
Senior Senator
Kyrsten Sinema
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2019
Next Election in 2024
Junior Senator
Martha McSally
Republican
Since Jan 3, 2019
Next Election in 2020
Arizona’s nine representatives are:
8th District (NW VALLEY)
Debbie Lesko
Republican
Since May 7, 2018
View District Map
1st District
Tom O’Halleran
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2017
View District Map
2nd District
Ann Kirkpatrick
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2019
View District Map
3rd District
Raúl Grijalva
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2013
View District Map
4th District
Paul Gosar
Republican
Since Jan 3, 2013
View District Map
5th District
Andy Biggs
Republican
Since Jan 3, 2017
View District Map
6th District
David Schweikert
Republican
Since Jan 3, 2013
View District Map
7th District
Ruben Gallego
Democrat
Since Jan 6, 2015
View District Map
8th District
Debbie Lesko
Republican
Since May 7, 2018
View District Map
9th District
Greg Stanton
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2019
View District Map
More Details:
The PRO Act would:
- Undermine private ballot union representation elections—a fundamental right since 1935.
- Deny individuals the ability to work independently, threatening the emerging “gig” economy and taking away the flexibility that has allowed American businesses of all sizes to grow
- Allow unions to launch disruptive protests and pickets against any employer, even those that have nothing to do with a labor dispute.
- Impose liability on businesses for workplaces they don’t control and workers they don’t employ.
- Eliminate all state Right-to-Work laws, which protect workers in more than half the country against being fired if they decline to pay union dues.
- Impose mandatory union contracts if a union and employer do not reach an agreement and deprive workers of the right to vote on the terms and conditions of their own employment.
- Increase needless class action lawsuits by restricting alternate means of dispute resolution in the workplace.
- Members of Congress need to stand up for the rights of America’s workers and employers and oppose the PRO Act. I encourage you not to cosponsor or support the PRO Act in any way.
The Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce issues Action Alerts based on the recommendations from our local board directors, our chamber partners and our lobbyist. Items are prioritized based the Chamber mission and our board approved state and local legislative agendas. Business owner input is always welcome and some these opportunities include Businesses Leadership Roundtables, advocacy comment form and our business climate Survey.
ACTION ALERT:
Protect our Quality of Life, Train our Future Workforce, and Attract High-Paying Jobs
Issue Date: 09/19/2019
Impact Area: Residents and Businesses of Surprise and El Mirage
Action Requested:
Vote Yes on the Dysart Unified School Bond and Override
Background:
A special election has been called by and will be held in, Dysart Unified School District No. 89 of Maricopa County, Arizona (the "District"), on November 5, 2019 ("Election Day"). The election will be a mailed ballot only election and the early ballot mail date is 10/09/2019.
- The bond program would be $152 MILLION to fund safety and security upgrades, technology, school renovations, buses, land for a new high school, and construction of two elementary schools. The bond tax impact based on an average assessed home value of $153,580 would be $10.88 per month.
- The Maintenance and Operations (M&O) 15% override allows voters to approve additional funding for operational expenses. There is no tax increase associated with approving this Override.
Why The Chamber Supports Education
The Chamber is an ardent proponent of strong educational systems. Education is, in every sense, one of the fundamental factors of development. No country or community can achieve sustainable long-term economic development without substantial investment in human capital. Education enriches people’s understanding of themselves, the world, and provides an opportunity for advancement. It leads to broad social benefits to individuals and society while raising people’s productivity and creativity. Education also promotes entrepreneurship and technological advances. Education plays a very important role in securing social and economic wellbeing for all. It is because of the link between education, economic growth and healthy communities that the Chamber is a strong advocates of healthy, effective, and well-funded educational systems.
Why Vote YES
A YES Vote on the Dysart Unified School District bond and override, which will help restore funding cuts during the recession while replacing aging buses and air conditioners, and improving security. A yes vote to continue Dysart's override will help keep class sizes manageable, provide all-day kindergarten, improve math and reading scores, and retain talented teachers. A Yes vote will help protect our quality of life, train our future workforce, and attract high-paying jobs. For the Surprise Regional Chamber, this is an easy choice. An investment in Dysart Unified School District is an investment in our economic future.
Action Alert Details : Vote YES on the Dysart Bond & Override
Details
As the Dysart school bond and override vote approaches, the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce has now officially announced their support for the bond and the override proposals.
Chamber Board Endorses
The President and CEO of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce announced the Board of Directors is officially endorsing the upcoming school bond & override. The Chamber is now encouraging residents and the business community to support the effort. “A strong, skilled workforce is key to building a strong and local community. That's why the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce is working to ensure our future workforce is trained and qualified by supporting the bond and the override.” The estimated bond program would be $152 million to fund land for a new high school, construction of two elementary schools, safety and security upgrades, capital improvements at each site, student transportation, and technology. The board also noted the need for accountability and transparency on how past and future bonds are spent.
Mission Match
Many factors that contribute to the economic growth and development of life in the NW Valley, one of the main factors is the quality of our schools. The mission of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce is to champion economic prosperity, foster a pro-business climate, and to improve the quality of life in our region. Supporting the educational system is one way we accomplish our mission.
Need for Continuous Improvement
The Chamber has a long history of supporting educational improvements, including efforts that support the expansion of high-quality educational programs. We believe there is a need to continually improve K-12 education through rigorous academics, accountability for performance, to offer choices for parents and families, and ensure that every student graduates from high school is prepared for the next step—whether college or career.
Education and the Quality of Life
Most chambers are ardent proponents of strong educational systems. Education is in every sense, one of the fundamental factors of development. No country or community can achieve sustainable long-term economic development without substantial investment in human capital. Education enriches people’s understanding of themselves, the world and provides an opportunity for advancement. It leads to broad social benefits to individuals and society while raising people’s productivity and creativity. Education also promotes entrepreneurship and technological advances. Education plays a very important role in securing social and economic wellbeing for all. It is because of the link between education, economic growth and healthy communities that chambers are strong advocates of healthy, effective, and well-funded educational systems.
Approved and Vetted by the Board of Directors
Mr. Raoul Sada, President and CEO of the Chamber further noted, that while the Chamber typically endorses school bonds, the approval is not automatic. The board still reviews the merits of the request, considers opposing points of view and must vote on the matter. The decision to support the bond and override was unanimous; however, due to the Chamber’s conflict of interest policies and protocols, two board members were required to abstain from voting on the matter. With board approval, the Chamber will now issue a government relation’s “Action Alert,” which encourages the business community and residents to support the bond and the override.
Chamber Action Alert
The Chamber’s Action Alert is distributed to 3,000+ businesses and its social media/digital reach is estimated to reach 25,000 residents. The message is to Vote Yes on the Dysart Unified School District bond and override, which will help restore funding cuts during the recession while replacing aging buses and air conditioners, and improving security. A yes vote to continue Dysart's override will help keep class sizes manageable, provide all-day kindergarten, improve math and reading scores, and retain talented teachers. A Yes vote on Nov. 5 will help protect our quality of life, train our future workforce, and attract high-paying jobs. For the Surprise Regional Chamber, this is an easy choice. An investment in Dysart is an investment in our economic future.
The Chamber is all about building communities to which residents, visitors, and investors are attracted and striving to ensure future prosperity via a pro-business climate. The Chamber is led by private-sector employers, is self-funded, and not affiliated with any governmental entity.
As the Dysart school bond and override vote approaches, the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce has now officially announced their support for the bond and the override proposals.
Chamber Board Endorses
The President and CEO of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce announced the Board of Directors is officially endorsing the upcoming school bond & override. The Chamber is now encouraging residents and the business community to support the effort. “A strong, skilled workforce is key to building a strong and local community. That's why the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce is working to ensure our future workforce is trained and qualified by supporting the bond and the override.” The estimated bond program would be $152 million to fund land for a new high school, construction of two elementary schools, safety and security upgrades, capital improvements at each site, student transportation, and technology. The board also noted the need for accountability and transparency on how past and future bonds are spent.
Mission Match
Many factors that contribute to the economic growth and development of life in the NW Valley, one of the main factors is the quality of our schools. The mission of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce is to champion economic prosperity, foster a pro-business climate, and to improve the quality of life in our region. Supporting the educational system is one way we accomplish our mission.
Need for Continuous Improvement
The Chamber has a long history of supporting educational improvements, including efforts that support the expansion of high-quality educational programs. We believe there is a need to continually improve K-12 education through rigorous academics, accountability for performance, to offer choices for parents and families, and ensure that every student graduates from high school is prepared for the next step—whether college or career.
Education and the Quality of Life
Most chambers are ardent proponents of strong educational systems. Education is in every sense, one of the fundamental factors of development. No country or community can achieve sustainable long-term economic development without substantial investment in human capital. Education enriches people’s understanding of themselves, the world and provides an opportunity for advancement. It leads to broad social benefits to individuals and society while raising people’s productivity and creativity. Education also promotes entrepreneurship and technological advances. Education plays a very important role in securing social and economic wellbeing for all. It is because of the link between education, economic growth and healthy communities that chambers are strong advocates of healthy, effective, and well-funded educational systems.
Approved and Vetted by the Board of Directors
Mr. Raoul Sada, President and CEO of the Chamber further noted, that while the Chamber typically endorses school bonds, the approval is not automatic. The board still reviews the merits of the request, considers opposing points of view and must vote on the matter. The decision to support the bond and override was unanimous; however, due to the Chamber’s conflict of interest policies and protocols, two board members were required to abstain from voting on the matter. With board approval, the Chamber will now issue a government relation’s “Action Alert,” which encourages the business community and residents to support the bond and the override.
Chamber Action Alert
The Chamber’s Action Alert is distributed to 3,000+ businesses and its social media/digital reach is estimated to reach 25,000 residents. The message is to Vote Yes on the Dysart Unified School District bond and override, which will help restore funding cuts during the recession while replacing aging buses and air conditioners, and improving security. A yes vote to continue Dysart's override will help keep class sizes manageable, provide all-day kindergarten, improve math and reading scores, and retain talented teachers. A Yes vote on Nov. 5 will help protect our quality of life, train our future workforce, and attract high-paying jobs. For the Surprise Regional Chamber, this is an easy choice. An investment in Dysart is an investment in our economic future.
The Chamber is all about building communities to which residents, visitors, and investors are attracted and striving to ensure future prosperity via a pro-business climate. The Chamber is led by private-sector employers, is self-funded, and not affiliated with any governmental entity.
Your voice is essential to protecting our free enterprise system! As a business advocate we need you to emphasize our core principles of the free enterprise, and remind elected officials that removing obstacles to job creation and economic growth is paramount.
Click Here For More Ways How the Chamber Fights for Your Business
One of the most valuable, and often overlooked functions of a chamber is being an advocate for the business community. The Chamber works to represent the collective voice of the business community. Whether it's setting legislative goals, working with our lobbyist, sending out Action Alerts or keeping voters informed through our forums, the goal is ensuring an environment where business can prosper.
Click Here For More Ways How the Chamber Fights for Your Business
One of the most valuable, and often overlooked functions of a chamber is being an advocate for the business community. The Chamber works to represent the collective voice of the business community. Whether it's setting legislative goals, working with our lobbyist, sending out Action Alerts or keeping voters informed through our forums, the goal is ensuring an environment where business can prosper.
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