Public Policy Steering Committee

What is the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee?


The NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN AND WHY

by NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee Co-chairmen Duffy Mazan and Paul Liberty, Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations, GTSI

The NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee collects, discusses and evaluates issues and initiatives important to Northern Virginia's technology community and vets a broad range of technology and business issues suggested by NVTC members, policymakers and others in the community. The committee then prioritizes those issues to produce the annual NVTC Legislative Agenda, which provides guidance and structure to our voice in Richmond during each General Assembly session. The committee also provides guidance to the NVTC Board of Directors in adopting organizational positions on issues of particular importance and is an important resource to the NVTC staff lobbying team—providing advice, direction and feedback on legislative matters.

The NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee is a committee of the Board of Directors. However, all NVTC members are encouraged to participate in committee meetings and activities and to raise issues with the committee and to present their views. In addition and importantly, throughout the year, the committee leverages the expertise and perspectives of NVTC members by encouraging their participation in legislative study commissions, advisory panels and policymaking bodies.

The Steering Committee works closely with leaders from George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, CIT and other regional technology and business organizations to coordinate priorities and legislative strategies.

The committee meets regularly during the year to develop the NVTC legislative agenda and holds weekly conference calls when the General Assembly is in session. Look for committee meeting dates in NVTC communications vehicles, like our weekly enewsletter, The NVTC Advocate: Your Voice in Richmond (produced every Friday during the General Assembly session) and www.nvtc.org.

Have a say in the future of the NVTC policy agenda because what happens during General Assembly sessions affects your business and its bottom line. Learn more about the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee by contacting Allison Glatfelter, NVTC Public Policy Manager, at aglatfelter@nvtc.org or (703) 904-7878, ext. 218.


How Does the Steering Committee Operate?


The NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee is a committee of the Board of Directors. Its voting members are either Board members or their designees, or Board-appointed members. All NVTC members are invited to participate in Steering Committee meetings and activities as non-voting members and we encourage member companies to raise issues with the Steering Committee and to present their views.

The Steering Committee works closely with leaders from George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, CIT, and other regional technology organizations to coordinate priorities and legislative strategies.

The Steering Committee meets regularly during the year, focusing on the development of the NVTC legislative agenda prior to the start of each session of the Virginia General Assembly. The Steering Committee also holds weekly conference calls when the General Assembly is in session.

In addition and importantly, throughout the year, the Steering Committee leverages the expertise and perspectives of NVTC members by encouraging their participation in important legislative study commissions, advisory panels, and policymaking bodies.

The Steering Committee co-chairs convene meetings. The dates, times, locations, and topics to be discussed at these meetings are shared with NVTC members through e-mail and via the NVTC weekly e-newsletter and other available communications vehicles.

How to Get Involved


Have a say in the future of NVTC's policy agenda bcause what happens during General Assembly sessions can affect your business and its bottom line. Learn more about the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee by contacting Allison Glatfelter, Public Policy Manager & Scheduler, at publicpolicy@nvtc.org.


What's New


Governor Kaine Presents State of the Commonwealth as Legislative Session Begins

Governor Tim Kaine delivered his State of the Commonwealth speech on Wednesday, January 14th, marking the first day of the 2009 Legislative Session. During the course of the speech:
  • Kaine announced he wanted to quickly put people to work on large infrastructure investments. He set a goal of putting 30 state projects worth $250 million to bid before June 30, 2009.
  • He indicated that while his budget proposes deeper cuts to higher education in 2010, it proposes "a lesser cut for community colleges — the most affordable point of entry into Virginia's higher education system." His budget also proposes an additional $26 million for need-based financial aid.
  • Kaine is asking for an additional $5 million for the Governor's Opportunity Fund to attract businesses to Virginia.
  • Kaine said it was essential that Virginia focus on industries of the future, and to this end he has proposed a major investment in green jobs and has created Renew Virginia, which will encompass his efforts in renewable energy, energy conservation, and green jobs. Under the banner of Renew Virginia:
    • The Governor created the Interagency Task Force for Energy Project Recruitment to work with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to build Virginia's compelling case for renewable energy-related businesses. The task force will include state agencies, university research centers, and federal laboratories based in Virginia.
    • The Governor said that a collaboration between technology-based economic development organizations and the state's universities will develop a single internet portal for investors to understand the wide variety of research being done on Virginia campuses and how they can invest and help bring these new technologies to market.
    • In an effort to help new companies grow and to make Virginia an attractive place to relocate existing green companies, the Governor is proposing an expansion of existing incentives for solar manufacturers to include new plants that make other alternative energy equipment and products.
    • The Governor is seeking to expand the market for new energy companies through targeted tax reductions that make residential alternative-energy installations more affordable by providing an income tax credit on solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and wind-powered electric generators installed in homes or businesses in the Commonwealth.
NVTC's public policy team is now in Richmond for the duration of the legislative session. NVTC is committed to ensuring that critical funding for education and technology is kept in place and that Northern Virginia's technology community is protected during the downturn.

Governor's State of the Commonwealth Speech

Posted January 16, 2009


Delegate Ken Plum Elected House Democratic Caucus Chair

Long-time Tech Champion Delegate Ken Plum (D–Reston) was chosen as Chairman of House Democratic Caucus this week. Plum succeeds recently retired House Democratic Caucus Chair Delegate Brian Moran (D–Alexandria). Delegate Kris Amundson (D–Mt. Vernon) and Delegate Jennifer McClellan (D–Richmond) were selected as House Democratic Caucus Vice Chairs.

Posted January 16, 2009


NVTC Unveils 2009 Legislative Agenda

NVTC has announced the Northern Virginia technology community's legislative agenda for 2009, with an emphasis on preserving the gains Virginia has made in building a globally branded technology business climate that regularly earns the Commonwealth accolades as the best place for business.

The legislative session, which begins Wednesday, January 14, will be challenging this year as the Commonwealth wrestles with more than a $2.9 billion revenue shortfall. NVTC is committed to innovative solutions to ensure Northern Virginia does not lose competitive ground in the years to come.

"We are excited to present our 2009 Legislative Agenda and believe it properly addresses the needs of Northern Virginia's technology community," said Donna Morea, Chair of NVTC and President of CGI. "We are confident that we can work with Governor Kaine and the Legislature to achieve real advancements in technology policy, promotion of entrepreneurship, STEM education and workforce development, tax policy and public-private partnership opportunities. NVTC will continue to make the case for critically needed transportation funding and will work to minimize cuts to our colleges and universities and research programs to keep Virginia competitive in a global economy. While Virginia is confronted with a budget shortfall, this is not the time to make fatal cutbacks in the areas that mean the most to our members. I am hopeful that NVTC's public policy team will find Richmond receptive to our proposals."

NVTC's public policy team will maintain a full-time presence in Richmond throughout the legislative session to promote this agenda and serve as the voice for Northern Virginia's technology community.

To view NVTC's legislative agenda, click here

Posted January 8, 2009


Governor Announces Budget Revisions to Address Revenue Shortfall
Public Universities Cut 15%; Center for Innovative Technology Loses 8% of Funding NVTC Will Advocate For Technology Community's priorities

Faced with what he described as the longest recession since World War II, Governor Kaine announced another round of proposed budget cuts this morning, furthering the cuts he initiated in October. Addressing a $2.9 billion shortfall, the cuts touch almost every sector of Virginia government, including education and technology funding. Governor Kaine's budget amendments would cut 15% in state funding from the base budget of all four-year public colleges in Virginia. Community colleges would lose 10% of their base budget funding.

Under the Governor's proposal, the Center for Innovative Technology, which supports entrepreneurial companies in Virginia, would lose approximately 8% of its budget next year, dropping from about $5.3 million to nearly $4.9 million in general fund appropriations.

The outlook was not all negative, however. Kaine proposed a new income tax credit and sales tax exemption designed to attract new green industry jobs to Virginia. The concept of green incentives is consistent with NVTC and its Green Technology and Energy Task Force's stated goals of attracting green technology businesses to the Commonwealth.

The Governor remained optimistic about how Virginia will weather the budget crisis.

"We are well positioned to come out of this recession quicker and better than many other states," Kaine said in prepared remarks. "Our fellow Virginians will thrive in a refreshed economy that will be built on new technologies, green jobs and global trade."

The General Assembly will consider Kaine's budget proposal when the legislative session begins on January 14, 2009. The NVTC public policy team will be in Richmond throughout the session to advocate for the Northern Virginia technology community's priorities and interests.

December 17, 2008


NVTC Members Impact Policy, Shape Change

NVTC successfully ensured that budgeted funds for the Center for Innovative Technology will be retained and effectively helped policymakers recognize CIT's value proposition, which includes the $14 CIT returns to Virginia's economy for every dollar Virginia invests.
Although Virginia's 2008 General Assembly session proved particularly challenging for the Commonwealth's technology business interests due to an almost $2 billion budget shortfall, Northern Virginia Technology Council members and NVTC's policy advocacy team worked year round to positively influence a variety of legislation. Virginia delegates, state senators and executive branch policymakers were guided by NVTC legislative advocacy efforts and recommendations to protect funding for the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT), ensure appropriate notification for data security breaches, boost funding for higher education and research, and solidify the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance, among other legislative successes.

Through the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee, members articulated NVTC's Legislative Agenda and provided ongoing direction, feedback and advice through PPSC-sponsored weekly conference calls. On a number of occasions, NVTC Board members personally met with policymakers in Richmond to discuss issues and provide "on-the-ground" support to affect significant advances in state legislation this year. And Josh Levi, NVTC's Vice President for Policy, maintained a full-time presence in the state capital throughout the 65-day legislative session.

A big win for NVTC and CIT this year was the defeat of legislation seeking to achieve budgetary savings by eliminating CIT. NVTC successfully ensured that budgeted funds for CIT—minus across-the-board cuts applied to all government agencies—will be retained. NVTC effectively helped policymakers recognize CIT's value proposition, which includes the $14 CIT returns to Virginia's economy for every dollar Virginia invests, the $500 million projected contribution of new gross state product resulting from company formations through CIT's GAP Program and the multi-million-dollar federal grants CIT brings to the Commonwealth.

Additionally, the General Assembly approved NVTC-supported legislation that directs CIT to establish a Commonwealth Innovation Index to foster the formation, retention and expansion of technology-based economic development opportunities. The index will serve as a tool to enable public and private sector leaders to better track Virginia's incremental advances as a technology state and to compare Virginia's annual progress to that of other key technology states. It is NVTC's policy position that the Commonwealth Innovation Index will help all stakeholders develop short- and long-term strategies to bolster strengths and better address future challenges.

NVTC's Message to Policymakers

  • Address Northern Virginia's transportation crisis
  • Improve Virginia's competitive advantage in the increasingly global economy
  • Boost funding for higher education in Northern Virginia
  • Increase research funding at Virginia universities, especially those located in the Northern Virginia community
  • Ensure the Commonwealth provides more highly skilled workers to power Virginia's technology economy
A particular priority for Governor Tim Kaine, legislators of both parties and NVTC was a bill establishing consumer notification procedures for companies that experience database security breaches where sensitive consumer information is compromised. NVTC worked to ensure that the final version of the bill, which ultimately was signed by the Governor, provides a reasonable and workable framework for businesses of all sizes, is consistent with the laws of other states and reflects NVTC's Position Statement, drafted by NVTC members, on Database Breach Security Legislation.

NVTC Board members frequently traveled to Richmond during the session to impress key House leaders with their concerns regarding proposed legislation that specifically targeted government contractors. One proposal that would have required Virginia government contractors to enroll in a voluntary federal database pilot project to verify employment status of every employee—in addition to the federal I-9 work verification process already in use—was among 100-plus immigration-related bills introduced this year. NVTC and other business leaders shared with state lawmakers a U.S. Government Accountability Office report that concluded the current voluntary federal pilot project database is not ready for mandatory use. Ultimately, the General Assembly did not impose an additional layer of employee citizenship verification requirements on government contractors in this session. Such requirements would impose additional costs to businesses without added protection or benefits and would be particularly burdensome to small businesses.

Josh Levi , NVTC Vice President for Policy, directs and oversees all NVTC legislative policy and advocacy efforts.
Legislation was enacted this year, however, that requires government agencies to provide in all written contracts that "the contractor does not, and shall not during the performance of the contract for goods and services in the Commonwealth, knowingly employ an unauthorized alien."

During this session, Governor Kaine also signed bills that give permanence to the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance, which is administered by Virginia's Office of the Secretary of Technology. The OTPBA was originally created via a 2006 Executive Order and announced by the Governor at an NVTC and Telework Coalition-sponsored event last year. The bill directly responds to one of NVTC's stated legislative expectations of "policies, tax incentives and broadband infrastructure to expand the use of telework in both the private and public sector throughout the Commonwealth with a goal of 20 percent of all eligible positions taking advantage of telework." Sponsored by Delegate Tim Hugo (R-Centreville) and strongly supported by NVTC, the bill sets 2010 as the deadline for all state agencies to meet the 20 percent telework goal.

NVTC also supported legislation establishing a market-based computer recycling program in Virginia. Sponsored by Delegate Ken Plum (D-Reston) and recommended by the General Assembly's Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) in response to a series of working group sessions held during the past year with representatives of NVTC member companies, including the Consumer Electronics Association, Dell and Turtle Wings, the bill requires computer manufacturers to adopt and implement recovery plans for computer equipment sold in Virginia to accommodate consumers who want to recycle outdated computer equipment.

NVTC urged Governor Kaine last summer to put forward a bond package that features funding for research facilities and equipment to ensure Virginia colleges and universities have the capacity to attract cutting-edge researchers and the infrastructure to compete for high-value research projects. NVTC Board members again emphasized their position on this issue during the November NVTC Board of Directors meeting at which the Governor spoke. Ultimately, through a collaborative, nonpartisan effort, Governor Kaine, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Colgan (D-Prince William), House Appropriations Committee Chairman Lacey Putney (I-Bedford), and members of the House and Senate crafted a six-year capital outlay plan that includes a bond package providing nearly $1.5 billion over the next two years to fund 75 higher education, mental health, state parks and other capital projects. More than two-thirds of those funds are specifically earmarked for 57 higher education projects, including critical projects at George Mason University (GMU) and Northern Virginia Community College. Additional funding was assigned to complete the planning phases for 26 additional higher education projects.

NVTC supported establishing a market-based computer recycling program.
The General Assembly also approved more than $32.9 million over two years for a variety of research initiatives, including $10.1 million for higher education research that earmarks $2 million for the Commonwealth Technology Research Fund, $1.6 million for the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium and $18.8 million for research at individual colleges and universities, including an additional $1.125 million each year to build research capacity in biomedical research and biomaterials engineering at GMU. Legislators also approved $116.8 million over the biennium for the Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund (HEETF) to be funded with short-term debt.

A $250,000-per-year budget amendment to continue an NVTC-supported funding initiative to address Northern Virginia's nursing shortage was also approved by the General Assembly. The bill was sponsored by Senator Colgan, Delegate Steve Shannon (D-Vienna) and Delegate Mark Sickles (D-Franconia). While this funding is less than the $750,000 per year NVTC was seeking, it was a hard-fought win for Northern Virginia's business community in a challenging budget year.

Legislators also passed an amendment, sponsored by Senator Dick Saslaw (D-Fairfax) and Delegate Jim Scott (D-Merrifield), that adds $110,000 to the budget for Northern Virginia's Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The funds, available beginning in FY2010, will raise the cap on the number of students the state supports from 1,500 to 1,600. More than 1,800 students are enrolled in the high school. This budget also includes $100,000 to match local efforts to develop a proposal for another technology-based "governor's school" to serve Prince William County. The bill's sponsors, in partnership with GMU, envision the hoped-for program opening no later than fall 2010.

The budget also restored funding that had been cut for the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Program to provide financial support to students preparing to teach in critical shortage areas including science, mathematics, computer science, technology education, and career and technical education.

Responding to other budgetary matters, the General Assembly approved $10 million included in Governor Kaine's budget to provide the Defense Research Projects Agency with a building that meets Defense Force Protection Standards. The Commonwealth previously committed the funds to keep DARPA from moving to Maryland under the conditions set by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Commission. DARPA directly manages a $3.3 billion annual budget, employs 240 people, and attracts defense contractors and other private businesses that employ more than 1,700 workers in Northern Virginia.

Dulles Rail Extension Back on Track
Reversing their earlier decision that the proposed Dulles Metro rail extension did not qualify for federal funding, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and the Federal Transit Administration announced in early May that they intend to allow the project to move to the final design stage. According to an article in the Washington Post, Secretary Peters informed Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and members of the congressional delegation that the first phase of the Metrorail extension to Dulles Airport "had finally met Federal Transit Administration standards for cost efficiency, construction and expected ridership." Although the 23-mile, $5 billion project can now move to the final design stage, the FTA indicated the project still faces hurdles that must be resolved before federal funds for construction can be committed.

Specifically, Secretary Peters told Governor Kaine and Virginia congressional leaders—including Senators John Warner and Jim Webb, Representatives Tom Davis, Jim Moran and Frank Wolf, and Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer—that the Dulles rail project must meet certain conditions to receive the proposed $900 million in federal funding. One condition for federal financial support is that Metro's regional partners must first address the system's $489 million in unfunded infrastructure, equipment and other safety-related repairs before it can tackle the rail extension project. Additionally, the Dulles rail project costs must not exceed those that are currently proposed and project officials must demonstrate that a realistic schedule, including a Phase 1 completion date of 2012, can be met.

"NVTC commends Governor Kaine, Senators John Warner and Jim Webb, Representatives Tom Davis, Jim Moran and Frank Wolf, and Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer, and all of our regional and local leaders for their strong leadership, resolution and continuing efforts to provide a transit gateway to the National Capital region on par with other world capitals," said NVTC President & CEO Bobbie Kilberg. "While we recognize significant federal conditions still must be met, we also recognize and take great pride in the extraordinary work that our elected officials and the region's business community have put forward in getting the project back on track. Northern Virginia's technology community looks forward to continuing our efforts to support this project, which is so vital to the future of our region."

Together with the Greater Washington Board of Trade and other leading regional business organizations, NVTC urged Secretary Peters, FTA Administrator James Simpson, White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolton, White House Counselor Ed Gillespie and U.S. Office of Management and Budget Director Jim Nussle in January to protest the Department of Transportation's original threat to withdraw its slated funding and to urge approval of the project. At the time, NVTC protested the initial decision as an untenable situation that "represents a major threat to our region's technology business economy and the region's overall economic situation and mobility."



Committed to Solving Transportation Crisis
A top priority for NVTC is Northern Virginia’s transportation funding crisis, which remained unresolved as the General Assembly adjourned this year. Policymakers could not reach consensus on a plan to deal with State Supreme Court invalidation of the $400 million-plus Northern Virginia transportation package enacted in 2007, substantial reductions in statewide transportation revenues for the foreseeable future and growing annual raids on transportation construction funds due to an ever-increasing maintenance deficit.

In spite of such setbacks, NVTC remains committed to addressing this serious issue that is critical to the continued growth and workforce needs of Northern Virginia’s technology economy. Governor Tim Kaine has called a special session, scheduled for June 23, to address Virginia’s statewide transportation funding shortfalls, and NVTC will continue to serve as the voice for Northern Virginia’s technology community, urging lawmakers to create a comprehensive transportation funding package that includes at least $400 million per year in additional long-term, sustainable transportation revenues for Northern Virginia.

posted 7/1/08 - Source The Voice of Technology Summer 2008


VIRGINIA IS FOR ENTREPRENEURS
Governor Kaine Announces Launch of Business One Stop Initiative Championed By NVTC

Kristin Seitz, Director of The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC, discusses small business and entrepreneur development in Virginia with Delegate Brian Moran (D-Alexandria).

Governor Timothy M. Kaine last week announced the launch of Virginia's online business formation portal, or Business One Stop, to assist in the formation of new businesses in the Commonwealth. The Business One Stop will begin to streamline the business formation process by automatically finding and filling necessary forms associated with business formation, with the capacity to expand and diversify services.

The Virginia Business One Stop was created through legislation sponsored by Delegate Brian Moran (D-Alexandria) and strongly supported by NVTC during the 2007 General Assembly Session.

"The Business One Stop provides a single location for entrepreneurs to find and complete the needed forms to open their business," said Governor Kaine. "This simplifies the business formation process, speeds up business transactions, and helps eliminate data duplication by identifying and delivering forms needed by 80% of new businesses."

"This important initiative represents a synergy of technology and business, benefiting entrepreneurs by streamlining the creation of small businesses all across Virginia. Virginia is the best state in the nation to do business and our technology sector leads the way. I greatly appreciate NVTC's support of this initiative throughout the legislative process." said Delegate Brian Moran.

"We believe this initiative will keep Virginia competitive as a preferred place to start a business and help entrepreneurs reduce their transaction costs with government so they can instead focus on hiring talented employees, bringing their products to market and growing their bottom lines," said Bobbie Kilberg, President & CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. "We applaud Delegate Brian Moran for sponsoring the legislation and Governor Kaine for ensuring its successful implementation."

The Business One Stop is available at: http://www.virginia.gov/bos/index.html, under the business tab of the Commonwealth's homepage, www.virginia.gov, and will also be available as a link from many agency websites. The system collects users' information, then provides and pre-fills the new business formation forms required by 80% of new businesses. The new portal will be available to entrepreneurs for free for the first 90 days. After that a nominal usage fee may be charged to future users.

NVTC promotes entrepreneurship in the technology community through The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC. The Entrepreneur Center is a resource hub for technology-focused start-ups and entrepreneurs at every stage of their lifecycle. The Entrepreneur Center fosters entrepreneurship in students, mentors the first-time entrepreneur, advises and supports the experienced entrepreneur, and facilitates strategic business relationships in the technology community.

For more information about the Business One Stop, please visit: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=662

posted 7/1/08


Senator Chap Petersen Discusses His Energy Policy Goals with NVTC Executives

Senator Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) told technology executives last week that he believes that increasing power consumption and energy demand in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads presents a significant economic development opportunity for rural parts of the state if they move forward quickly in developing new sources and capacity to supply alternative and renewable energy. While Petersen does not promote one particular technology or energy source over another, he told members of NVTC's Public Policy Steering Committee that he thinks Virginia is well positioned to research and implement new sources of energy and believes that all regions of the state can benefit—whether they are tapping a labor force to supply new energy or are the beneficiaries of reliable and affordable energy as a result.

NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee collects, discusses and evaluates issues and initiatives important to Northern Virginia's technology community and vets a broad range of technology and business issues suggested by NVTC members, policymakers and others in the community. The Committee is charged with drafting NVTC's legislative agenda and establishing NVTC's position and relative priority on a wide variety of policy issues relating to the technology industry. During the next several months, the Public Policy Steering Committee will continue to meet with a variety of policymakers and outside groups as committee members begin to assemble and draft a 2009 Legislative Agenda to provide guidance and structure to NVTC's voice in Richmond during the General Assembly session.

posted 5/28/08


Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer Briefs NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee


Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer
In anticipation that the General Assembly will convene for a Special Session on transportation in May or June, the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee invited Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer to attend their meeting this morning to provide an update on transportation funding in Virginia. During the meeting, Secretary Homer provided committee members with a comprehensive briefing on how transportation is funded in Virginia, current revenue projections, an update on the size and scope of Virginia's statewide maintenance deficit, and the challenges policymakers are facing related to transportation funding and the impact on various regions across the state.

The briefing was intended to provide committee members with the background information necessary to evaluate the various proposals that will be introduced once a Special Session is announced.

Addressing Northern Virginia's transportation crisis in a significant and sustained manner remains a top NVTC priority and is critical to the continued growth and workforce needs of Northern Virginia's technology economy and to the long term health of the state's economy. As the Governor prepares to call a Special Session to address Virginia's statewide transportation funding shortfalls, NVTC will continue its transportation advocacy efforts and push for a comprehensive transportation funding package that includes at least $400 million per year in additional long term, sustainable transportation revenues for Northern Virginia.



Delegate David Poisson (D-Sterling) addresses a joint meeting of the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee and Workforce Committee.
NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee and Workforce Committee Hold First Joint Meeting

The NVTC Workforce Committee held its first joint meeting with the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee last week to talk about technology education and workforce issues and public policy initiatives that pertain to these topics. The committees were joined by Virginia Delegate David Poisson (D-Sterling) who discussed his views about the Commonwealth's educational challenges. Also meeting with the group was Tim Priest, Executive Director of the Greater Washington Initiative (GWI), who presented some of the findings from GWI's latest study on human capital and the knowledge workforce in the Greater Washington region.


NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee Meets with Delegates Callahan, Moran
Committee Endorses Digital Freedom Campaign



(l-r) House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran (D-Alexandria) and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Vince Callahan (R-McLean) discussed issues with NVTC's Public Policy Steering
Committee on March 20.



(l-r) NVTC President & CEO Bobbie Kilberg; Nicholas Evans, CGI; Todd House, Micron Technology; and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran (D-Alexandria).
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Vince Callahan (R-McLean) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran (D-Alexandria) agreed today that, despite some individual retirements, Northern Virginia will gain legislative clout as redistricting in 2011 gives the region more seats in the Virginia General Assembly.

NVTC's Public Policy Steering Committee met with the delegates on March 20, 2007 to discuss NVTC's legislative priorities, the 2007 General Assembly session and election year politics moving forward. Callahan is not seeking reelection in 2007 after serving since 1968 and championing regional interests as head of the Appropriations Committee.

The Committee thanked Callahan for his 40 years of dedicated public service as a delegate and his leadership in funding important Northern Virginia technology priorities, such as support for George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, the Center for Innovative Technology and Thomas Jefferson High School.

Delegates Callahan and Moran also joined together this year to sponsor community college transfer grant legislation, which will smooth the transition of associate degree students into four-year university programs. During his remarks, Moran thanked NVTC for lending strong support in helping to achieve passage of his pro-entrepreneur "One–Stop Permitting for Small Businesses" legislation. Moran also suggested that new strategies to bolster research in Virginia could be a priority for future legislative sessions.

The Committee also met with NVTC Board Member Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), to discuss the Digital Freedom campaign. CEA is among the groups supporting the campaign, which is dedicated to defending the rights of artists, innovators, creators and consumers to use technology without fear of unreasonable government restrictions or costly lawsuits. The Steering Committee endorsed the campaign and enlisted NVTC as a supporter.


Committee Leadership and Lobbying Team


Co-Chair:
Duffy Mazan
(703) 734-1547
dmazan@mazan.org

Co-Chair:
Paul Liberty
GTSI
(703) 502-2100
paul.liberty@gtsi.com

NVTC Lobbying Team

NVTC Vice President of Policy
Josh Levi
(703) 904-7878 ext. 214
jlevi@nvtc.org

NVTC Public Policy Manager
Allison Glatfelter
(703) 904-7878 ext. 218
aglatfelter@nvtc.org