Federal Legislative Priorities

 

TRANSPORTATION FUNDING:

  • Funds for Infrastructure Projects – The federal government needs to meet or exceed fiscal year 2010 highway funding guarantees as set forth in SAFETEA-LU to ensure that there is no decrease in federal highway funding.
  • Highway Reauthorization - We strongly support additional federal resources committed to a new, long-term federal highway reauthorization bill. This includes reauthorization of federal gasoline taxes that are used to fund the federal highway trust fund.
  • Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport – We support up to a $7 increase in the Passenger Facility Charge. The current Passenger Facility Charge of $4.50 has not been raised in a number of years although construction costs continue to exponentially increase. The charges are locally imposed and proceeds are spent locally. It is not an across the board tax increase. XNA could potentially raise more than $1.4 million that could be used for local projects.
  • Rogers Municipal Airport – Northwest Arkansas would benefit from an additional DBRITE radar system (Digital Bright Radar Indicator Tower Equipment) at the Rogers Municipal Airport. This is a high-priority safety need that would enhance the services provided by the Rogers Air Traffic Control Tower to the many corporate and private aircraft that utilize one of the state's busiest municipal runways.

IMMIGRATION

  • Immigration – We strongly support comprehensive federal immigration reform that protects U.S. national and economic security. Reform should increase security, address delays and disruptions in our immigration and border management systems, and refrains from unduly burdening employers with worker verification systems that are underfunded or unworkable. We need legislation that is fair, meets the needs of our growing economy and meets the test of common sense.

E-FAIRNESS

  • E-Fairness – We support legislation requiring online retailers to collect and remit Arkansas sales taxes. This creates a level playing field between local businesses and helps move the responsibility of remitting use taxes from the consumer to the retailer.

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

  • Card Check – We oppose efforts by Congress to remove the secret ballot process for union elections. This legislation would have a significant and detrimental impact on businesses of all sizes.
  • Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act – We oppose efforts at the federal level to force municipalities to enter into collective bargaining arrangements with their public safety employees regardless of state and local laws.

APPROPRIATION REQUESTS

  • Federal Funding Support for Northwest Arkansas – We support appropriation requests that would provide:
    • Funding for large regional highway projects, including, but not limited to the Bella Vista Bypass, Springdale Northern Bypass, and I-540 upgrades.
    • Funding for NorthWest Arkansas Community College and University of Arkansas programs and facilities.